Full text of "Bubbles"
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CALIFORNIA
STATE LIBRARY
Cgll No.
CALIF
BUBBLES
VOL. 5
1921-1922
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£> <^L&<3 /
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Vol. V
OCTOBER, 1921
No. 1
■-*5»
MARCHANT CALCULATING MACHINE COMPANY
ONE OF OAKLAND'S BIG INDUSTRIES
October. 1921
'BUBBLES"
East Bav Water Co.
OAKLAND SUPPLIES THE WORLD WITH CALCULATING
MACHINES
By Ralph P. Anderson
HOW familiar are you with the organ-
izations which make the East Bay
District the prosperous community
that it is? It's interesting to know, and
worth while to be able to tell friends and
newcomers the facts about the big plants
which you see so frequently.
The East Bay District is the industrial
center of the West, manufacturing thou-
sands of products, varying from cans to
automobiles, from airplane motors to great
sea -going
freighters.
These great
plants have
come to the
East Bay Dis-
trict because
it is centrally
located, be-
The "Marchaxt" Rotary Calculator pause it has
unequalled transportation facilities, be-
cause it has water and electricity in abund-
ance, because skilled labor is plentiful — in
short, because the East Bay District,
among all the Pacific Coast communities,
stands out as the ideal industrial center.
In the variety of businesses represented
in the East Bay District is found the
explanation of its stability, for "hard
times"' in any one branch of industry does
not seriously affect the district as a whole.
The Marchant Calculating
Machine Company
Typical of these important East Bay
industries is the Marchant Calculating
Machine Company, located in Emeryville,
one of Oakland's sister communities. In
its two-acre plant this company manufac-
tures calculating machines used in every
corner of the world, in almost every busi-
ness. Its four hundred employees form
an important group of East Bay citizens,
adding to the district's prosperity and
doing their part in attaining a Greater
East Bay District.
The Marchant Calculating Machine
Company, incorporated in 1913. succeeded
Marchant Brothers, which had started on
Market Street, Oakland, as a small shop
with limited equipment and no sales force.
Erom this small beginning the concern has
grown steadily, as a result of the merit of
its product, until today it has a plant
capable of producing twelve thousand cal-
culating machines annually.
This success has not been attained with-
out great difficulties too numerous to men-
tion. The present plant represents the
concrete realization of the hopes and
struggles of a dozen years.
Not the least of these obstacles was the
disastrous fire which entirely destroyed
the plant on November 29. 1919. In spite
of the almost complete loss, in spite of the
fact that the loss was not covered by
insurance, reconstruction was commenced
immediately, and the present hre-proof
buildings are protected by an automatic
sprinkling system.
Modern Plant Covers Two Acres
ok Ground
The Marchant buildings cover two acres
of ground, and include an administrative
building, a factory, and a foundry. Forty-
eight large windows take over 75 per cent
of the front wall space of the factory
building. This, combined with overhead
windows, makes the daylight factory a
pleasant place to work.
Another feature of the Marchant factory,
important
from the
w o r k e r ' s
standpoint, is
its modern
ventilat-
ing system.
This system ^^»mj
keeps the fac- ^^^5||
tory at the
same tempera-
ture every
month in the
year, regardless of whether the outside air
be warm or cold, thus permitting a high
standard of efficiencv among the workers.
"Marchant'
Calculator
October, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Assembling Department
The factory has two die and tool vaults,
which are both fire and moisture-proof.
Some idea of the value of these dies may
be gained when it is stated that skilled
mechanics devoted their full time to the
perfecting of individual dies for as long
as a year at a stretch. Some of the dies,
but little larger than your hand, represent
an investment of many thousands of
dollars. As one workman expressed it,
"They're wortli their weight in gold."
the original die to the testing of the
finished machine, accuracy and concentra-
tion are essential.
That Oakland factories supply the
world is true in the case of calculating
machines, for Marchant machines are used
in every corner of the world. They are
used on West Indies plantations, by
Hawaiian sugar companies, on South
American ranches, in Paris shops, and so
the list might be continued.
Many Skilled Workers Are Employed Machines Are Sold All Over World
That the Marchant plant is an indus-
trial city in itself is shown by this partial
list of its many departments, each employ-
ing from a few to several dozen skilled
workers : Machine shop, foundry, milling
machine department, punch press room,
sheet metal department, grinding and
polishing room, plating room, enameling
room, experimental department, wheel
department and assembling department.
Whirring belts, smooth-running electric
motors, almost-human automatic machines
are everywhere throughout the factory.
It gives the visitor a queer feeling to see
a machine doing its systematic work with-
out an attendant to control it, for many
of the machines are entirely automatic.
Some of the machines recently installed
do the work of five earlier models.
Here in the factory a thousandth of an
inch is an important matter, for "almost
right" will not pass. From the making of
To handle this foreign business, the
Marchant Calculating Machine Company
is establishing branches all over the world.
It now has branches in Bangkok, Shang-
hai, Barcelona, Sydney, Cape Town, and
other important points. When arrange-
ments now being made are completed, the
company will have fifty-seven foreign
offices.
This does not mean that the company's
business is primarily foreign, for it sells
machines throughout America, and has
branch offices in New York, Chicago.
Cleveland and other leading cities.
So all the world contributes to East Bay
prosperity in providing markets for Mar-
chant products, furnishing employment to
between four and five hundred employees.
What this means is indicated by the esti-
mated pay roll for 1922 — three-quarters
of a million dollars. This includes only
employees at the Emeryville plant, an
October, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Manufacturing Department
additional large sum being paid to its
salesmen.
In addition to the two acres of land
covered by buildings, the company has two
acres of unused land in anticipation of
future expansion. Its plant, land and
machinery are valued at $600,000.
This plant produces but one product —
a calculating machine. This specialization
has resulted in superiority in that product,
making Marchant the leader in the calcu-
lating machine field. Wherever displayed,
the machine has won high awards. For
example, at the P. P. I. E. in 1915 the
Marchant Calculating Machine Company
was given the Highest Award and Gold
Medal.
Big Business Honors the Marchant
In practical business life, the Marchant,
through merit, has been awarded "first
honors." It is being used by the United
States Government, by such corporations
as the Standard Oil Company, by such
railroads as the Southern Pacific, by such
insurance companies as the Metropolitan
Life, and by such banks as the National
City Bank, the largest in Western
America. Marchants are selected by all
of them — from the largest corporation,
purchasing only after weeks of investiga-
tion, to the smallest concern.
Next January the Marchant Calculating
Machine Company is to bring out a new
machine which will make this concern
more than ever the dominating factor in
the industry. With this new Marchant
Keyboard Calculator, the company esti-
mates that its 1922 sales will total about
$3,600,000.
"The future is bright," says P. B.
Waldin, Sales Manager. "I really cannot
find words to express the possibilities that
lie before us. There is every prospect
that our growth will continue until the
Marchant Calculating Machine Company
is one of the leading East Bay industries."
Because "the future is bright" for this,
and other East Bay concerns, 1922
promises to be a prosperous year for the
East Bay District.
The variety of industries represented in
the East Bay District assures prosperity
even though some few individual industries
may be operating at less than full capacity,
temporarily. But with practically all East
Bay industries men voicing the same
thoughts as expressed by the Sales Man-
ager of the Marchant Calculating Machine
Company, every East Bay citizen is justi-
fied in planning for a year of unprece-
dented prosperity in business and indus-
trial lines.
With such nationally-known organiza-
tions as the Marchant Calculating Machine
Company contributing to its activity,
bringing both workers and money into this
district, the East Bay citizen may well
say with pride and with emphasis, "Oak-
land is prosperous."
October, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
SAN PABLO FILTER PLANT OF EAST BAY WATER COMPANY
By H. Reinhardt, Assistant Chief Engineer
FILTER plants of the strictly modern
rapid sand type are new in California.
At the present time a few plants in the
State are using pressure filters — some
using a prepared water and others filter-
ing water without preparation.
There are two
types of niters in
use at the present
time throughout the
world — the slow sand
and the rapid sand or
mechanical filter. The
slow sand type filters
water at the rate of
5,000,000 or 6,000,-
000 gallons per acre
per day, and the
rapid sand at rates
of from 125,000,000
to 175,000,000 gal-
lons per acre per
day. Both types have been known to
greatly exceed these rates under certain
conditions and deliver a satisfactory water.
It is possible to filter water at the high
rates now obtaining in plants using rapid
sand filters, for the reason that suspended
matter is nearly all removed before the
water reaches the filters. Plants are now
Reinhardt
designed for a rate of 125,000,000 gallons
per acre per day, and there are plants that
have been known to filter nearly twice this
rate and deliver a satisfactory water. The
normal rate of 125,000,000 gallons per
acre per day, you will therefore see, is
somewhat arbitrary.
In the early days it was possible to
serve an unfiltered surface water in the
East Bay communities, largely for the
reason that storage was so great compared
to the amount of water served that run-off
stored in large reservoirs went through a
process of natural sedimentation and was
fairly clear. It soon became apparent,
however, that something must be done, for
during the run-off season it was necessary
to serve a turbid water. Companies serv-
ing water, after a great deal of experi-
menting, installed filters of the pressure
type, first filtering raw water and later
treating the water before filtering. The
results have been quite satisfactory within
the limit of the capacity of the filters.
These filters are still in use, after over
thirty years of operation, and are produc-
ing a good water. There was, therefore,
no question as to the necessity of filtering
water from any new storage system for
the East Bay cities. There was only the
San Pablo Filter Plant
AERATOR IN FOREGROUND
5
October, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
San Pablo Filter Gallery
OPERATING TABLES IN FOREGROUND
question as to what type of filter to use.
A study of the progress made in the
United States during the last few years
showed that the rapid sand filter would
undoubtedly prove to be the most desir-
able. The engineers designing this plant
knew that they had to deal with a water
containing odors, tastes and occasional
high turbidities and large amounts of
algae. While at times the water is high in
bacteria, this condition rapidly decreases,
owing to the fact that the water remains
in large storage reservoirs, and for the
major part of the year the counts are
remarkably low.
The San Pablo filter plant, as designed
to purify water from San Pablo Lake,
briefly consists of an aerator, sedimenta-
tion basins, rapid filters and a clear well.
Taking these features now in more detail,
we will describe their reasons for being
there.
Previous experiments have shown very
satisfactory results in the removal of
tastes and odors by aeration, and it has
been found that aeration inhibits the
growth of organisms requiring carbon
dioxide for their existence. By an inter-
change of gases, aeration liberates odorif-
erous gases and adds oxygen to the water ;
but while aeration may remove the odor
caused by organisms, it does not remove
the organisms themselves.
Sedimentation was necessary to a
greater or lesser extent during the year,
depending of course upon the turbidity of
the water, but in any event it was neces-
sary a greater part of the year. The ques-
tion as to the size of basins is governed
somewhat by the type of basin employed,
ground available and character of tur-
bidity of the water. In order that the
sedimentation basin may function prop-
erly, it is necessary that the water be
treated with a chemical or coagulant for
the purpose of gathering together sus-
pended matter that may precipitate out
when the water reaches the basin. In the
preparation and application of this coagu-
lant, the mixing channel, therefore, be-
comes a very necessary part of the suc-
cessful plant, and the need for its proper
manipulation is apparent when it is seen
that the amount of coagulant required
sometimes runs up into the hundreds of
pounds per million gallons. A properly
designed mixing channel means economy
in any purification plant.
After sedimentation, the water is ready
to pass on to the rapid sand filters. These
filters have for their filtering material
about eighteen inches of gravel ranging
in effective size from 12 mm. to 1.8 mm.
and twenty-four inches of sand having an
effective size of OA mm.
6
October, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bav Water Co.
Passing down through this material, the
water is collected in the underdrain system
of the filters and goes through the effluent
piping and rate controller to the clear
well.
For the purpose of washing the sand in
the filters a wash-water tank is provided,
with enough head to give the proper rate
of wash. Filtered water is used and is
usually pumped to the wash-water tank
by pumps provided for that purpose.
The San Pablo filter plant has a rated
capacity of 12,000,000 gallons daily. The
eight filters have a sand area of 5-iO square
feet each and a rated capacity of 1,500,-
000 gallons daily each. The sedimenta-
tion basin has a capacity of 3,000,000
gallons, or a retention period of six hours
at the normal rating. The clear well has
a capacity of 6,000,000 gallons and the
overflow elevation is 238 feet above city
base. As the water enters this clear well
it is sterilized with liquid chlorine.
The water purified by this plant comes
from the San Pablo Lake, which has a
storage capacity of about 14,000,000,000
gallons, through a concrete lined pressure
tunnel 2.6 miles long, and is delivered at
the aerator under the lake head as long
as the lake has sufficient water stored to
give proper aeration. When this lake head
is not sufficient, a booster pump is pro-
vided to give the head necessary.
* After leaving the aerator, the remaining
filtering processes are carried on by
gravity. With the clear well full of
water, at elevation 238 feet, and the water
standing in the aerator at elevation 246,
eight feet of head is consumed.
A modern filter plant is an assembly of
delicate and somewhat complicated ma-
chinery, apparatus and piping. Its opera-
tion covers the field of chemistry, biology
and bacteriology, physics, mechanics and
electricity. It is largely automatic in its
operation but it will not run itself. Theo-
retically, the water delivered by the filter
plant would not require sterilization, but
the human factor enters so largely into its
operation that nearly all plants sterilize
the effluent before delivering it to the con-
sumer.
BUILDING OR BREADLINES?
A certain amount of amiable optimism
makes life pleasant at times, but it does not,
of itself, sustain life. Just now a little
wholesome and frank pessimism is in order.
Two hard facts are staring us in the face:
the unemployed now number fully 6,000,-
000 men and Winter is coming on.
It is all very commendable and very
agreeable, up to a certain point (and also
very easy) to rely on a favorable turn
which will ease the hard circumstances of
creature existence, but times come when
it is well to realize that few good things
just happen or are vouchsafed to humanity
by a beneficent providence. The thought-
ful are in agreement, now, that work must
be found for the idle or we are in for a
Winter of deprivation and suffering.
As everybody knows, many construction
projects have been postponed from year
to year for just seven years. Much public
improvement work, long held up, should
now move rapidly forward. A very great
deal of this work can be done during the
Winter season. The directing minds in
construction industry long ago learned how
to cope successfully with cold weather.
This is not only a way out of a bad
situation but in the opinion of many it is
the only way out. The choice rests
between action or inaction, between build-
ing or breadlines, between public works or
public charity. Only a flabby and un-
justifiable optimism will prevent public
officials making the proper choice. Now
is the time for some robust and rational
realism; if we don't take control of the
situation in the only way available, the
coming Winter will be one of suffering for
the millions of unemployed and their
dependents, the women and the children,
the aged and the infirm.
While it is unpleasant to direct thought
to what will surely happen if we go on
waiting for providential or congressional
relief it is pleasant indeed to point out
that if public works projects be driven
forward now, useful work will be provided
for those released from industry and great
sums of money will be placed in general
circulation, to the immediate and substan-
tial benefit of all lines of business.
— Municipal and County Engineering.
October, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS VISIT THE
SAN PABLO DAM PROJECT
ON SATURDAY, October 29th, the
East Bay Water Company acted as
host to a large and representative
gathering from the San Francisco Section
of the American Society of Civil Engineers
on a trip to the major units of the San
Pablo project.
The members were met at the Berkeley
station at 1 2 :30 by a fleet of twenty-four
automobiles, nine of which were furnished
by the East Bay Water Company, and
were driven first to the new San Pablo
filter plant. An hour's stop was made
here and the members were conducted on
a brief tour through the plant and expla-
nations were made of the functioning of the
plant, tracing systematically the course of
the raw water from San Pablo Lake,
through the tunnel, booster pumps,
aerator, mixing channel for coagulants, the
sedimentation basins, the rapid sand filter
beds and finally to the clear water basin,
where the final act of sterilization takes
place and the final product passes to the
distribution mains. A filter bed was
washed, giving a practical demonstration
of the character and amount of suspended
matter removed from the raw water by
the filtration process.
While at the plant our guests very
patiently and good naturedly allowed our
photographer to pose and group them for
the photograph shown herewith.
The auto caravan thence proceeded out
San Pablo Avenue and up the San Pablo
Canyon to the dam, where the final yard-
age of the sluice fill was being washed
down from the hillsides by the "giants"
topping off and completing the dam. All
members of the party had been furnished
with sheets containing information and
pertinent data of the project and a print
of the dam section. Considerable time
was spent here examining the various fea-
tures, the equipment used in sluicing,
method of placing material, regulation of
puddle w'dth. the segregation and char-
acter of &"> material of the dam fill, the
geological features exposed in the pits, the
open wast^wav and the wasteway shaft
and tunnel. The parties gathered in
groups, examining and discussing the
various features of interest of the project,
and the engineers and superintendents of
the Company put in a busy afternoon
answering questions and discussing the job
and the scheme of operation.
The day was an ideal one, real Indian
Summer weather, and quite a few of the
members brought their families along for
an outing. We noted among those present
several engineers who were associated with
the project at its first conception in 1907.
It probably was of special interest to Mr.
P. E. Harroun, Mr. E. F. Kriegsman and
Mr. Gale Strout to see the final completion
of the project some fourteen years later.
The trip was arranged by Mr. Ned D.
Baker, chairman, and Robert A. Monroe
of the excursion committee of the Ameri-
can Society of Civil Engineers co-operat-
ing with the Engineering Staff of the East
Bay Water Company.
Among those present on the excursion
were the following :
M. M. O'Shaughnessy, City Engineer, San Francisco
N. A. Eckart, Chief Assistant City Engineer, San
Francisco
R. P. Mcintosh, Assistant City Engineer, San Fran-
cisco
C. E. Healy, Chief Clerk Engineering Department,
City of San Francisco
Leslie W. Stocker, Assistant City Engineer, San
Francisco
F. 0. Shutts, City Engineer's Office, San Francisco
S. T. Harding, Consulting Irrigation Engineer
H. R. Edwards, Chief Engineer Hammon Engineer-
ing Company
Thomas J. Allan, Engineer Standard Oil Company
L. C. Willey, Engineer Standard Oil Company.
E. F. Kriegsman, Consulting Hydro-Electrical Engi-
neer
A. S. Kibbe, Consulting Engineer San Francisco-
Oakland Terminal Railways
E. J. Schneider, Construction Manager United States
Steel Products Company
P. E. Harroun, Consulting Hyaro-Electrical Engineer
H. A. Kluegal, Major Quartermaster Corps Construc-
tion Division, United States Army
J. M. Howells, Consulting Engineer
Gale S. Strout, Consulting Hydro-Electrical Engineer
I. C. Steele, Civil Engineer Pacific Gas & Electric
Company
S. E. Carpenter, Assistant Engineer Pacific Gas &
Electric Company
Robert A. Monroe, Assistant Engineer Pacific Gas &
Electric Company
Frank G. White, Chief Engineer Board of State
Harbor Commissioners
George Blair Sturgeon, Consulting Engineer
8
October, 1921
"BUBBLES'
East Bay Water Co.
Bernard Benfield, Consulting Engineer
J. H. G. Wolf, Consulting Engineer
Harold Conkling, Hydro-Electric Engineer Division
of Water Rights, State of California
Fred H. Tibbetts, Civil Engineer
H. I. Wood, Engineer with Fred H. Tibbetts
R. G. Wadsworth, Engineer with Fred H. Tibbetts
Raymond Matthew, Assistant Engineer with Fred H.
Tibbetts
Ned D. Baker, Civil Engineer
C. J. Rodin, Construction Engineer
Dorsey Ash, Engineer
S. G. Hindes, President San Francisco Bridge Com-
pany
S. E. Kieffer, Construction Engineer
T. H. Means, Consulting Engineer
E. T. Thurston, Construction and Consulting Engi-
neer
H. H. Wadsworth, Consulting Engineer
Charles Derleth, Jr., Consulting Civil Engineer, Dean
of College of Civil Engineering, Berkeley
Wm. B. Gester, Pacific Coast Manager Robert W.
Hunt Company
L. J. Hohl, Consulting Engineer
H. B. Van Etten, Engineer
E. I. Clawitter, Civil Engineer San Francisco Bridge
Company
Geo. H. Binkley, Consulting Engineer Market Street
Railway
S. S. Gorman, Engineer with California State Water
Resource Investigation
J. G. Wright, with Woods, Sessions & Woolsey,
Appraisers
F. S. Foot, Professor of Railroad Engineering, Uni-
versity of California
A. C. Alvarez, Instructor in Engineering, University
of California
J. E. Bowersmith, Engineer Bates & Borland
Kimball G. Easton, Auditor Bates & Borland
P. R. John, Auditor Bates & Borland
Leslie C. Jopson, Engineering Student, University
of California
L. E. Anderson, Engineering Student, University of
California
M. A. Buckley, Engineering Student, University of
California
F. Wm. Kellberg, Engineering Student, University
of California
Clarence J. Sly, Engineering Student, University of
California
Harold E. Hedger, Engineering Student, University
of California
Ray L. Derby, Engineering Student, University of
California
J. Garfield Barstow, Engineering Student, University
of California
George D. Clyde, Engineering Student, University
of California
H. C. McCreery, Engineering Student, University
of California
Albert D. Foster, Engineering Student, University
of California
H. A. Harris, Engineering Student, University of
California
Irvin M. Ingerson, Engineering Student, University
of California
Geo. R. Nethery, Engineering Student, University
of California
B. T. Hudspeth, Engineering Student, University of
California
Howard F. Topping, Engineering Student, University
of California
E. M. Knapik, Engineering Student, University of
California
Howard C. Wood, Engineering Student, University
of California
H. G. Gerdes, Engineering Student, University of
California
J. M. Terrass, Engineering Student, University of
California
D. W. Alberts, Engineer and Superintendent Bates
& Borland
Geo. W. Hawley, Resident Engineer East Bay Water
Company
Harry Reinhardt, Assistant Chief Engineer East Bay
Water Company
Fred J. Klaus, Assistant Chief Engineer East Bay-
Water Company
Paul I. Daniels, Sanitary Engineer East Bay Water-
Company
P. E. Magerstadt, Designing Engineer East Bay-
Water Company
C. J. Andruss, Land Sales Agent East Bay Water-
Company
Geo. A. Hunter, Construction Superintendent East
Bay Water Company
Harry Knowles, Stock Sales Department, East Bay
Water Company
San Francisco Section of the American Society of
Civil Engineers
October, 1921
"BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
By William Aichbee
A tadpole intellect is usually above a
bullfrog voice.
There's a lot of smiles wasted during
telephone conversations.
The calves at Neptune Beach will seek
new pastures for the Winter.
When a man carries it on his hip he
might be called a hippopantamus.
Whenever a man gets stung by his tailor
he knows who put the ants in pants.
Just like the real moon, many a honey-
moon fades away on the last quarter.
What doth it profit a girl to wear high-
priced silk hose when calves are so cheap ?
Never judge your new neighbors by the
legs you see sticking out of the moving
van.
Remember that Bubbles is entered at
the postoffice in Oakland as first-class
stuff.
When a man dies and his relatives agree
that he is better off, the chances are that
he is.
Some fellows write for the magazines
for money, while others write home to dad
for it.
Statistics show that women live longer
than men, but not quite so much. Y'under-
stand ?
Most any fellow would prefer to be run
down by a stenographer than by an auto-
mobile.
Be careful when you get into the swim,
that you don't go beyond your depth, boys
and girls.
"Man cannot live by bread alone" — it's
;pretty doughy stuff — so bring on a little
"moisture."
If a girl wears a ring on her finger when
she is engaged, why not a ring in the nose
for the man?
One of our young women is afraid to
go out after dark for fear that someone
might Nipper.
The sun comes up smiling every morn-
ing, but lately it seems that the "moon-
shine" never sets.
The hearse is a handsome car which
helps a "tail-ender" to arrive first at his
final destination.
When everything else has failed to take
the conceit out of a man, marriage will
eventually do it.
Cedar chests full of hope will keep the
moths out of the engagement. Remember
this, Miss Hazel.
After a couple of years of constant
"listening in," telephone operators develop
acute earslipiless.
John Reginald Hunter has cut out his
daily yeast cake. Says they made him
froth at the mouth.
The reason they were called the Sand-
wich Islands is because they were dis-
covered by a Cook.
The stranger in our midst must be very
green, indeed, if he goes to an oculist to
get an "eye opener."
Probably Miss Armstrong would have
caught more fish if there were not so many
feathers in the river.
Don't forget, that as wise as you may
be, or thmk you are, old top, you are on
somebody's sucker list.
Even when Noah was working on the
Ark there were pessimists who predicted
that it would never float.
10
October, 1921
BUBBLE S
East Bav Water Co.
If the soldiers' bonus is paid out of a
tax on light wines and beer it will not be
very long before the boys will be paid in
full.
A friend of ours wants to marry a
woman who weighs 300 pounds and is six
feet tall in her silk hose. He wants too
much.
An alienist says the proper word to use
nowadays when a man is sent to the
asylum for speeding is, that he is a "loco
motive."
Ye Oakland District Scribe says Mrs.
Forkey moved over to Oakland to get two
hours' sleep. Wha tdo esshe thi nkthi scit
yis — ab edroom?
An X-ray negative of one of our boy's
heads shows something within the skull
about the size of a pea, which the doctor
says is his brain.
"As a man thinketh, so is he," evidently
does not apply to the birds who, with long-
legged boots, wade in "moonshine" up to
their Adam's apple.
One of the Ostrich boys refused to have
his neck shaved recently because the
barber wanted to charge him so much per
inch perpendicularly.
At the Disarmanent Conference, if the
delegates were asked to leave their arms
outside, what would some of them do who
talk with their hands ?
"Speak, Sophie, speak, soften stern
suspense," said Sam Smyley. "Soon,
sometime soon," said Sophie, softly. Read
this again and "lisp" it.
Whenever you see a fellow wearing a
small corkscrew on his watch chain, you
will know that he is a bootlegger and that
the c. s. is his fraternity pin.
Vegetarian eating places are a relief to
those with weak stomachs who balk at
insectarian restaurants where the fly loops
the soup and accompanies the oyster.
Well dressed women will wear their
skirts not hip-her than ten inches from the
ground this Winter. Others will attempt
to economize on dress goods, as usual.
All questions on personal magnetism
should be referred to Miss Whosis in the
main office, front counter.
Maids who live to a "ripe" old age
must be tickled pink that they were not
picked when they were "green."
A woman eating hamburger in a cafe-
teria bit into a nail — a finger nail. Now
she's looking for the butcher who, perhaps,
lost a finger.
Hello, Marilla, we notice your picture
in each issue of Bubbles, and you always
look just about the same. There's only
a few of us who know how to keep looking
young.
The State of Nevada would be a good
place for John Buyer to drive his "Stub-
born Six." Less than one person to the
square mile over there — he wouldn't hit
anybody.
What has become of all the opera
glasses ? Why, they're being used by
occupants of second and third floor apart-
ments to look down upon their neighbors
across the street.
A man who formerly possessed a deep
bass voice now sings a clear soprano — the
result of taking six bottles of Lydia Pink-
ham's Vegetable Compound. Church
choirs take notice.
We are holding our breath for the
adjournment of the Disargument Con-
ference at Washington, Deecee, then we'll
place our valuation on conversation at so
much per converse.
Save your 1921 calendar. You can use
it again for the years 1927, 1938, 1949
and 1955. If you don't believe it, figure
it out for yourself. It's as easy as tacking
molasses to the wall.
Paragraphs from our correspondents in
the last issue of Bubbles indicate that
most everybody went away to the Springs
to rest. Why go out of town for a rest
when you have a box mattress at home?
At the recent Rotary Luncheon held at
the new Filtering Plant, we noticed that
Samuel Marks, Double El Farrell and
Double You Aiche Blais were strong for
the chickens — served with brown gravy.
11
October, 1921
"BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
Issued by
EAST BAY WATER COMPANY
Edited by the Employees
and devoted to their interest and benefit.
Address communications to Bubbles, care of
East Bay Water Company
512 Sixteenth Street
Oakland California
George H. Wilhelm Editor-in-Chief
Charles E. Thatcher Managing Editor
Helen P. ARMSTRONG....Asst. Managing Editor
John R. Hunter Business Manager
Writers on Technical Matters
F. J. Klaus Asst. Chief Engineer
H. Reinhardt Asst. Chief Engineer
P. E. Magerstadt Designing Engineer
Paul I. Daniels Sanitary Engineer
Geo. Hawley Res. Engr. San Pablo Unit
W. R. Curtin Engineering Department
Correspondents
Oakland District J. P. Fieberling
Berkeley District Wm, H. Blais
Alameda District G. A. McKean
Richmond District C. E. Clark
Corporation Yard Marilla M. Williams
Vol. V. OCTOBER, 1921
No. 1
PUBLIC OPINION
OUR opinions are formed out of ex-
perience; of what we read and hear,
and largely from what seems to be
the general opinion of our associates.
One man's experience is too little for
him to form all his opinions independently
on a thousand different subjects.
The public gets public opinion from the
newspapers and advertisements ; from
books and magazines and from the talk
of people who read these things. Very
few men think up their own opinions.
That is true of everybody.
The author and the editor try to mould
public opinion about politics, manners and
the news. Not all of them succeed.
Favorable public opinion is the founda-
tion and frame of any successful business.
AUTUMN'S PASSING
Autumn's passing is proud. The gar-
nering of the harvest means sustenance
for the world. During the turning and
falling of the scarlet and golden leaves a
wistful touch comes into the hearts of men.
Autumn is a time for pensive memories.
Man has been quick to feel the bond link-
ing his fate with that of the fallen leaf.
In watching the litter of the leaves, man
feels that there is some litter in his own
heart that is without beauty. Man cannot
shed his leaves during the annual visit of
Autumn. He can only try to forget and to
wish that in the maturity of his years he
may be like the tree he admires and that
all his bitterness and prejudice may be
swept away, that he may look forward
with confidence to the tender promise of
Spring.
'TIS SO
"If you think the world is coming to
an end, it will, as far as you are con-
cerned." So said Chauncey M. Depew.
He went on: "If you believe that tomor-
row will be better than today, you will
work to that end and be surprised at your
success. I have encountered many per-
sons who held the former theory. None
of them are about me today. The lasters'
are those who looked upon tomorrow with
confidence. The trouble with the fair
weather optimist is that he isn't ready to
take advantage of sunshine when it comes,
till the 'steady pluggers' have taken a run-
ning start and passed him."
TEN SUGGESTIONS
1 Good nature adds 33^% to any success.
2 It takes lots of truth to offset one falsehood.
3 The more a person enjoys his work, the
more he enjoys his leisure.
4 Reputation and value are boosted by
delivering the goods.
5 Chance rules the fortunes of business but
does not control the market.
6 The best alibi in law or business is the
one you do not have to use.
7 Unfilled wants are great fields for har-
vesting.
8 Make November's perfect days December's.
9 A smiling face is the radiator — It covers
the engine and makes the machine run
smooth.
10 If you are thoroughly satisfied with your-
self, it's time to die.
12
October, 1921
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
RELIEF FUND
CHRISTMAS DAY of 1921 will soon
be here, and we, according to our
annual custom, will try to do our part
in relieving distress, so that we can feel
that we have, in our humble way, con-
tributed our share to make this a better
world to live in.
Especially at this time, with so many
people out of work, we will be glad of the
opportunity to help a few others, not so
fortunate, to climb the ladder of self-
respect and confidence.
Last year's fund was carefully admin-
istered. The surplus held in suspense,
after making four families happy at
Christmas time, has been used during the
year in the relief of emergency cases, and
in one instance, in assisting in the pur-
chase of equipment which would enable
a crippled man to support his family. In
every case all the circumstances have been
investigated and every cent of our money
has gone where it was sorely needed. On
October 21st the last $1.27 in our fund was
contributed to the relief of a family in
distress, and we must all once more reach
into our pockets and help those in need.
Our Christmas Finance Committee for
this vear will be Mrs. Lahr, Miss Farrell
and Mrs. Beekman, and they will call on
you soon for your contribution so that it
will not come later, at a time when you
feel that you have need for all your funds.
PURCHASE OF UNION WATER
COMPANY'S PLANT
This Company has recently completed
the purchase of the Union Water Com-
pany's holdings in Alameda and Contra
Costa Counties and the properties have
been taken over by us.
The purchase price of $1,100,000 was
agreed upon several months ago by the
State Railroad Commission after a
thorough survey of the properties.
The holdings of the Union Water Com-
panv consist of 15 pumping plants, 103
wells, 11 storage tanks, and 112 miles of
pipe, none more than 11 years old, con-
struction of the Union system having been
started ,-n 1910. There are 4.910 services
in operation, covering San Leandro, Oak-
land. San Pablo, Richmond and Newark.
Transfer of the business and physical
properties of the company was made on
October 28th. Consolidation of the plants
of the two systems has been effected and
Union mains have been connected with the
system of East Bay Water Company and
are being supplied from various sources.
We are now operating the properties as
a single unit.
"THE LIGHTNIN' BUG"
Wen de Good Lawd mek de animiles, de
fishes an' de fowls,
De insecks an' de crawlin' things, de pos-
sums an de owls,
He fix it so dat some kin see all froo de
da'kest night
As well as dem whut capah roun' in day-
taim in de light.
He gib de Tom-cat yella eyes fo' huntin'
mice 'n rats,
He fix it so no ha'm kin come to dem low-
flyin' bats;
He 'low Mis' Duck mus' see in da'k, an'
also Missy Goose,
He fix de niggah so he'll fin' dem chickens
on de roos'.
But w'en de Good Lawd think He don,
He fin' He ain't a-tall,
Kase dey's a bug he obahlook a-settin' 'gin
de wall.
Dis bug he say: "Oh, Massa Lawd, whut's
dis' yo' done to me;
Yo' mek me f o' to fly by night wiv daylight
eyes to see."
De Good Lawd say unto Hisse'f: "Ah
suah am done su'prise !"
An' den He look aroun' to fin' a paih ob
night-taim eyes,
But not a one am leff in stock; de Good
Lawd scratch He haid
An' say: "Ah guess dat bug'll hab to fly
in day instead."
But dis yeah bug he say he kain't kase
he ain't built dat way,
He built fo' flyin' in de night an' not in
opin day;
De Good Lawd grab a lante'n den an' tie
it on him snug
An' dat is whv soon aftah da'k yo' sees de
lightnin' bug.
13
October, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
"BUBBLES" from OUR
CORRESPONDENTS
OAKLAND • BERKELEY
ALAMEDA- RICHMOND
CORPORATION YARD
OAKLAND DISTRICT
GENERAL OFFICES— Mrs. Ward is
a new addition to the stenographic
force and is assisting Mr. Bow en.
Every time Mr. Dougherty comes into the
office she says "HECK."
Mrs. Gibson was at home for a few
days with a litle bark
and a sore throat.
Little Eva also had
to be at home with a
little horse in her
throat, but she re-
turned smiling as
usual.
Tevie has been "off
his feed" for a few
days, but like a
brave soldier, he re-
mained "on the job."
Too many Italian
luncheS" J. P. FlEBERLIXG
Ask Messrs. Lar- Correspondent
son and Knowles if they still believe the
water oscillates through the meter.
A dividend of $1.50 per share was de-
clared and paid on this Company's Class
"A" 6 Per Cent Cumulative Preferred
Stock for the quarter-year ending Sep-
tember 30th, 1921.
Miss Schuster has been substituting
while Miss Kerns was enjoying herself in
the hospital. Frances had an operation
on her arm and we are glad to have her
back with her right punch in good con-
dition. She has had two operations in ten
months and thinks it is about time for the
other fellow to get his share.
Have you had a duck dinner yet? Yes
indeedy, and it was mighty good.
Some of our employees enjoyed a
HalloAve'en party, and all reported a good
time.
We are proud of our organization,
which we like to think of as one big
family, and of the fine spirit of comrade-
ship, co-operation, loyalty, and the ideal
of service which permeates it, but we were
disappointed at the lack of interest shown
by the employees during the recent Indus-
trial Show at Idora Park, as there were
many educational features in the exhibit.
We know of one unmarried man on the
third floor who does not have a pair of
side curtains for his automobile. Now
what do you think of that?
Clarence believes in spirits (both kinds).
Mr. George Pracey, Superintendent, and
Mr. Clements, in charge of the Commer-
cial Department of the Spring Valley
Water Company, paid us a visit recently,
and enjoyed a trip over the San Pablo
filter plant and dam and the major units
of the system.
Messrs. Magerstadt, Klaus, Reinhardt,
Hawley and Farrell attended the Conven-
tion of the California Section of the Amer-
ican Water Works Association. They
made the trip by automobile to Los An-
geles and return, and broke all laws of
God and man (in regard to speed regula-
tions). They took an interesting trip over
the plant of the Los Angeles Water Works.
Harry Reinhardt is sporting a brand
new Franklin car. Nuf sed.
Mr. William C. Flimmer is our new as-
sistant in the Auditor's Office. Miss Jean-
ette Elliott has also been assisting Mr.
Sedgwick.
Miss Grace Blake spent the week-end
in Stockton, and reported a good time.
The good old dinner bell always gets
quick action because it advertises a wel-
come story.
BUSINESS OFFICE— Collector Lou
Burbank has just returned from an ex-
tended trip through the East. While on
his journey he visited various points of
interest, and also included in his itinerary
some of the large water companies of the
country. He was graciously received and
14
October, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
extended every courtesy, and brought back
various reports and forms which are of
great interest to us stay-at-homes.
While in Baltimore he had a hand-to-
hand encounter with a great many clams
and oysters, and;, like all men, he tells the
truth. While at Niagara Falls he decided
to go over to Ontario to get the Canadian
view of the falls, but we firmly believe it
was for another reason. He did not go to
Ontario to see water.
Lou also tells us a good story about the
Dempsey-Carpentier fight. There is an
abandoned tower at the mouth of the
Hudson River, and the wily Deschamps,
manager for Carpentier, conceived the idea
of placing a moving picture machine in
this tower, and the operator had an un-
obstructed view of the arena. Below the
tower a man waited with a motorcycle. As
soon as the fight was over the film was
sent to a man waiting in an aeroplane, who
took it to the steamer bound for London,
Paris and Bordeaux, and it was shown in
Europe weeks before it was released
in the United States, and Deschamps did
not share the profits with Rickard.
Herewith is a picture of Lou Burbank
and wife, taken in front of the Capitol
steps at Washington, D. C. Lou had some
trip, and visited New Orleans, Atlanta,
Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New
York, Buffalo, Ontario and other cities.
Since the last issue of Bubbles, one of
our old friends and associates, Andy Gif-
ford, passed to the Great Beyond. It
surely was a severe shock to those of us
who knew him well, for Andy was a lovable
fellow, and all who have had intimate deal-
ings with him know that they have indeed
lost a true and loyal friend.
I also have the sad duty to report the
death of Mrs. O'Connor, mother of Ray
O'Connor, turn-off man of the Berkeley
District and sister of Miss Pollard of the
Order Department of the Oakland Divi-
sion. Through these columns, we extend
our deepest sympathy to our co-workers
and the bereaved family.
Frank Pretti took a day off on November
1st to welcome in the opening of the quail
season. We have the usual report of get-
ting the limit, but we were denied the
privilege of seeing or tasting the evidence.
Frank, we are still from Missouri.
Foreman Charles Fieberling of the
Meter Reading Department is very busy
these days rerouting the eastern part of
our system. The necessity of this work
was brought about by the acquisition of
Union Water Company's plant. He is ably
assisted in the work by John Wilson, one
of our old and tried employees, and
between them we have no doubt that the
work will be correctly and quickly done.
STUNG!
Gracie and Polly and Bobbie, all three
Decided to go on a wonderful spree
For two of the girls 'twas the day of their birth,
And a present they had as reward of worth.
The third wrent along to see it done right
And show them the use of a real appetite.
"Surely"' they said, "There's money between us
To get a swell feed down at the Venus."
All pleasingly plump and fond of good cooking,
They decided to eat as if no one was looking.
Said Bobbie, "I know I ought to reduce,"
"But Gee ! I'm half starved, so I'm going to
cut loose."
Said Polly, "I know I oughtn't to do it,
But go on, lead the way, I'll follow you to it."
Said Gracie, "I'm there if you'll set the pace,
I'll try not be left at the end of the race."
I'll not tell the secret of all that they ate,
But leave it to me, they didn't lose weight.
When the waiter came 'round with the slip,
They gasped in dismay and really felt SICK.
The money they had to pay for the trip
Was barely enough for a ten per cent tip.
Moral: Take the man along next time.
15
October, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
CENTRAL BILLING BUREAU—
C stands for Central, we all quite agree,
Also for Class and Consistency;
But Bureau and Billing are harder to
solve,
Therefore give one B to the Beauties and
the other to the Bald.
History repeats itself. This time last
year a night and a special day crew were
engaged in rerouting all our sections. At
the present writing a night crew, viz.,
Messrs. Schumacher, Westfall, Tyson,
Mitchell and Elliott are busy setting up
records for the accounts taken over from
the Union Water Company.
We also repeat that Miss Larson
finished up our vacation schedule for this
year and we hope she enjoyed her local
trips but not the cold.
Miss Mulholland has taken over the
comptometer position left open by the
resignation of Miss Le Grande. Miss
Brandt takes the position as extension
clerk formerly held by Miss Hulholland.
Miss Mundell took over Miss Larson's
work while she was on her vacation.
The girls of the Billing and Tabulating
Departments tendered their two brides-
elect (Miss Mulholland and Miss Rogers)
a miscellaneous shower at the Venus, Sat-
urday, November 5th. Many useful and
beautiful things were given for the hope
chests. The table decorations and the
place cards were beautiful, and after a
tempting repast and many good wishes for
the happy girls, they left because HE was
waiting. Miss Rogers claims she is hold-
ing Miss Mulholland a safe lead. We
wonder. However, we can't help but
notice the sparklers.
Mrs. Forkey has been doctoring a lame
hand. A growth on the index finger of
her right hand has caused her much suf-
fering.
Mrs. Beekman has been nursing a sore
finger on her right hand, which has
caused her much discomfort.
Miss Davis is relieving on the grapho-
type until Mrs. Forkey's hand is better.
Miss Davis said if she was to be sent on
a mission, she would begin right here and
teach penmanship. You surely will have
a large class.
CORPORATION YARD
JACK GRIFFIN, warehouseman, joined
the Benedicts Club on September 15th.
Jack and his wife spent a honeymoon
in "Pop" Wilkins' camp at Cazadero, and
reported having a wonderful time hiking,
swimming, etc. We wish for you and
your wife a happy
and prosperous
future, Jack.
Paul Havens, one
of the mainstays in
the Machine shop, is
all smiles these days.
A little bird has it
that Paul has found
HER.
"Honey" Jasper,
as usual, is keeping
the machines spic
and span. Leave it
to Joe to turn out
Marilla M. Williams
Correspondent good work.
We hear Frank Stagnaro is developing
the art of playing the "Garlic Box" very
fast. Bring it around Frank and give
us a tune once in a while.
The Alvarado pumping plant now has
a new, up-to-date warehouse. "Shorty"
Hunter has just completed same and also
has given all buildings surrounding the
plant a new coat of paint.
Pedro Bof is now a first-class acetylene
welder. He has been studying the art of
welding at night school. Keep up the
good work Pedro.
We have two new foremen in our midst,
Joe Miller and J. Pillotti, formerly with
the Union Water Company. Welcome to
our family group.
Tom Griffin has just about completed
the new 20-inch extension on Rose Street,
Berkeley. This will be a great aid in
getting more water and better pressure
for the residents in North Berkeley.
Tim Suber, foreman of the Machine
Shop, has been on our sick list for the
past month. Tim suffered an abrasion
on one of his ankles and has had a very
serious time. The latest reports are that
he is well on the road to recovery and will
soon be in our midst again.
16
October, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bav Water Co.
Bill Schlenker says lie likes city life
very much. Watch yo' stej) Bill.
Emil Esola and his three musketeers
are busy keeping the streets in good con-
dition. Leave it to Emil.
"Shorty" Hunter, chief carpenter, has
been repairing roofs, buildings, etc., in
general at the various pumping plants and
filters, preparing for the coming Winter.
Foreman Ed McKinnev and wife spent
a pleasant ten days' vacation in the
vicinity of Marysville. Ed said he had
a good time herding turkeys, etc., on the
ranch.
T. Roschitisch, one of our A-l helpers
in the Yard, received a painful injury
recently when a piece of pipe fell on his
foot, breaking the little toe. He is now
back to work and is in good condition
again.
Nick Hebeisn, with his able assistants,
E. Querlica, P. Puppino and T. Rowley,
is putting the East Oakland Yard in ex-
cellent condition. Leave it to Nick to
turn out the work right.
A Chevrolet three-quarter ton truck and
two Dodge three-quarter ton trucks have
been purchased recently by the Company.
C. Jewell is driving one of the Dodge
trucks, while Paddy Horan, assistant
superintendent, is driving the other. Both
seem well pleased with the new trucks.
Ellis Stevens is the driver of the Chev-
rolet truck.
Louis Lester Farrell accompanied a
party of East Bay Water Company repre-
sentatives to the Water Works Convention
held in Los Angeles during the first part
of October. Louis has been raving
about everything in general down that way
ever since his return. What did you find
down there Louis ?
Geo. A. McKean
Correspondent
Disa Fareeli/s Biga Boss. Maea Him Getta
Up Axt Time at Night.
ALAMEDA DISTRICT
JOHN HONIGSMAN, who drives a
truck about the size of a modern
bungalow, called at our back door to
find out all about our high tower. John,
it seems, had pulled the short straw and
was elected to clean out the room in the
tower of our build-
:ng. This room is
located just one hun-
dred and one steps
from the ground and
t didn't take John
and his genial co-
partner, E. Maleton,
long to realize that
they occupied quite
an elevated position,
ind after twenty-
four round trips were
quite sure that they
were having their
share of ups and
downs. But as John says, "It's all in a
day's work," and next time maybe we will
have the elevator running.
Mrs. Blomfield of the Oakland Sales
Department assisted us in the mailing of
our monthly bills. Mrs. Blomfield is no
stranger in our town, having resided here
some years ago, and has a host of friends
with whom she renewed acquaintance.
Naturally, when listening to a fisherman
spin yarns about his large catch, one takes
same with the usual amount of salt. How-
ever, this is not a fish story, but about a
couple of records hung up by our foreman,
Joe Paladini. Joe started from his home
in Melrose at four o'clock on a Sunday
afternoon and rowed to Alvarado, return-
ing at six p. m. the same day, with seven
ducks. The following Sunday Joe and his
pal left home at the small hour of two in
the morning expecting to be back for
breakfast, but shortly after starting the
fog settled upon the bay and although the
hunters pulled a mean oar for about five
hours, when the fog lifted they found
themselves just one little mile from home.
Needless to say, there was no duck break-
fast, but Joe has the satisfaction of holding
the record for the speediest and also the
slowest mile rowed on our little bay.
17
October, 1921
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
BERKELEY DISTRICT
THERE has been considerable activity
in the realty market, especially in
high-class business property. Mr.
W. W. Whitecotton, proprietor of the
Whitecotton Hotel, has purchased the
property adjoining the public library on
Shattuck Avenue,
just south of Kitt-
redge Street, now oc-
cupied by the Federal
Land Bank. He has
also arranged to pur-
chase the block on
the west side of Shat-
tuck Avenue from
Durant Avenue to
Bancroft Way. The
Standard and Union
Oil Companies now
operate service sta-
tions on this proper-
W. H. Blais
Correspondent
ty. As soon as they
are able to vacate,
ground will be broken for a one-story con-
crete building to contain thirteen stores.
Plans drawn by the architect, J. W. Pla-
chek, will eventually call for a six or
eight-story structure.
Harms & Morse, stationers, 2163 Shat-
tuck Avenue, have purchased the Francis
Ferrier property, 2179 to 2183 Shattuck
Avenue. This property adjoins the
Boardman Estate at the northeast corner
of Shattuck Avenue and Allston Way.
which has been torn down, and on which
a one-story building will be erected.
Messrs. Harms & Morse are contemplating
extensive improvements on their property.
Mr. E. T. Harms, a member of this pro-
gressive firm, is one of our City Fathers.
The First National Bank of Berkeley
recently purchased an additional forty
feet of land just south of their present
holdings at the southwest corner of Shat-
tuck Avenue and Center Street, on which
they will build an addition to their pres-
ent structure. This building is practically
a new one, but the rapid strides that this
institution is making has caused the offi-
cials to find ways and means to enlarge
the building.
Building permits for the month of Sep-
tember show a big increase over the same
period last year. There were 146 permits
issued, with an estimated cost of $312,-
629.00 against 117 permits with an esti-
mated cost of $187,545.00.
Assessor H. J. Squires, in his annual
report to the council, shows that an in-
crease in real estate valuation of $3,727,-
595.00 and an increase of more than
$10,000,000.00 in improvements have been
made this year over last year, without
figuring the $1,682,375.00 in real estate
and $555,775.00 improvements added by
the annexation of the Cragmont District
in 1920. He also reports 4,093 transfers
of property during the year commencing
March 2, 1920, and ending March 7, 1921,
as compared with 3,885 pieces deeded
during the corresponding period last year.
Through the good offices of our Presi-
dent, Edwin O. Edgerton, the City of
Berkeley has acquired for a term of fifty
years, Cordonices Park at a yearly rental
of $1.00. This park will be used as a
playground. The Cragmont Improvement
Club and Cordonices Park Improvement
Club, through the efforts of its members,
have erected a very neat and cozy club-
house on the property.
On September 27th the Claremont Dis-
trict was visited by a mammoth grass
fire, which swept over several hundred
acres in the Berkeley Hills. Firemen
from five Berkeley companies were aug-
mented by several units from the Oakland
Department in fighting the flames which
were fanned within a . few feet of resi-
dences on Tunnel and Vicente Roads.
October 15th was red letter day for the
Berkeley Bank Clearing House. The
representatives of sixty-six banking
houses assembled here for the Fall Con-
vention of Group 6, American Bankers
Association.
Designing Engineer Magerstadt and
Superintendent of General Construction
"Shorty" Hunter dropped in the other
day and installed a new organization
chart.
October, 1921
BUBBLES''
East Bay Water Co.
RICHMOND DISTRICT
WE HAVE just had the Richmond
Office all dolled up and we feel very
proud of it. Mr. W. A. Moorehead.
the owner of the building, has just com-
pleted the tinting of the walls and bright-
ening up the paint, so we feel very grate-
ful to him.
The Republic Steel
Package Company
has begun construc-
tion work on their
plant in North Rich-
mond. This will add
one more industry to
the many we now
have; also hundreds
of people to the pop-
ulation of our fast
growing little city.
Incidentally our
Company will supply c E Cl ARK
the water to this new correspondent
industry from our twelve-inch main on
Chesley Avenue. We have plenty of water
for more such factories, and ideal loca-
tions with wonderful climatic, labor, rail
and power conditions. Now why shouldn't
they select Richmond as the city for manu-
facturing purposes — let us continue to
boost, for "As ye sow, so shall ye reap."
Down at our Municipal Docks every-
thing is going with a "whiz and a bang."
Should you happen to be there sight-
seeing, and City Harbor Manager Jack
Misner gets his eagle eye on you. he will
hand you a pick, shovel or hammer and
tell you to get busy, for he says there is no
room for sight-seeing at this time. The
reason for all this is that "Our City. Rich-
mond." under the supervision of Harbor
Manager Misner, is building a warehouse
with a floor space of -io.OOO square feet.
This building will be equipped with a
piling machine and all of the most modern
equipment for storing and handling ma-
terial of every description. The cost of
the building alone is $150,000.00. and was
made necessary because the present Munic-
ipal docks and warerooms would not
hold the tonnage. They are now full to
overflowing, and Harbor Manager Misner
says he has a great deal more tonnage as
soon as he has room for it.
The contracts for the dredging of our
outer harbor will be let about November
1.3th. and work will begin not later than
December 1st. This will make the Rich-
mond harbor one of the best on San Fran-
cisco Bay. Let the good work go on.
Our office was honored by a short visit
from Mr. C. E. Thatcher, Assistant to our
General Manager, on October 28th. Glad
to see you, Mr. Thatcher ! Come oftener.
Assistant Chief Engineer Harry Reinhardt
and Assistant Chief Engineer Fred Klaus,
piloted by Superintendent Lou Farrell.
have paid us several visits of late, work-
ing out some of the problems connected
with the pipe lines, service and pumping
plants which our Company has just taken
over from the Union Water Company.
This system begins in the Richmond
Division near the county line and covers
a rambling route through East Shore Park
District. South Richmond. Richmond
proper and San Pablo, a total of 196 ser-
vices with miles and miles of pipe line.
Foreman Pleich says he does not mind the
normal growth of our district, but when
they come in flocks he will have to get a
bookkeeper to keep track of the business.
John Rihn. our good-natured service
man. has just got his Lizzy Ford back
from the Oakland Hospital, where he took
her for treatment. We understand that it
was necessary to perform a capital opera-
tion, under the supervision of Dr. Stevens.
However, since Lizzie's recovery. John
says she is just like new. and we believe
this is true from his pleasant smiles.
Ye scribe had occasion to go to the San
Pablo dam on the first of this month look-
ing up some stray meters, and viewed
witli a great deal of satisfaction a nearly
completed job. As we stood upon the top
of that big dam and looked into the future,
we could picture one of the beauty spots
of the Pacific Coast: a lake with a back-
ground of flowers and green shrubbery
the whole year round, and I venture to say
that our Comjjany will build a park
around this lake.
19
-
(SljankBgitrntg
HIS HOLIDAY in the United States of America is
named by the President, and usually by the Governors of
the various States, to be kept as a thanksgiving for the
mercies of the year, and to be observed on the last Thurs-
day of November. The festival is essentially a harvest thanksgiving,
and its earliest observance can be traced to the Pilgrim Fathers. The
Summer of 1 62 1 , following the landing at Plymouth Rock, yielded but
a scanty harvest, and unless speedy supplies came from Europe the sturdy
colonists foresaw that they would be reduced to the point of starvation.
Yet, amid such surroundings as these, we learn from the old chronicles
that Governor Bradford proclaimed "the harvest being gotten in, sent four
men out on fowling, so that we might, after a more special manner, rejoice
together after we had gathered the fruit of our labor." And thus,
"While sickness lurked, and death assailed,
And foes beset on every hand," the first
Governor of New England instituted the American Harvest Home.
During the Revolution, Thanksgiving Day was a national institution, being
annually recommended by Congress ; but after the general thanksgiving for peace, in
1 784, there was no national appointment until 1 789, when Washington, by request
of Congress, recommended a day of Thanksgiving, in 1 795, on account of the sup-
pression of insurrection. President Madison, by request of Congress, recommended a
thanksgiving for peace, in 1815. During the Civil War, in 1863 and 1864,
President Lincoln issued proclamations recommending annual thanksgivings. Since
then a proclamation has been issued annually, as indicated above.
v-
A Panoramic View of the Golden Gate from the Homes in the East Bay Cities
Vol. V
DECEMBER, 1921
No. 2
holehearted and sincere greetings are
extended to every member of the organ-
ization of East Bay Water Com-
pany. Great as is the task of furnish-
ing the growing East Bay communities
with that vital necessity — water — fully
equal to the task have been the men and
women employees of the Company.
The executive officers have the ut-
most confidence in undertaking any
necessary further steps in this great
service because of the confidence in-
spired by this splendid organization in
its ability to meet and conquer diffi-
culties, and to measure up to the severe
conditions of modern public utility
service.
I take this opportunity to thank each
of you for loyal co-operation in main-
taining the reputation of the Company
for good service.
Wishing you a most joyous Christ-
mas and prosperous New Year,
President
GREETINGS
December, 1921
"BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
RIDING UP HIGH ON HIGH
Being a Few Hundred Words About the Skyline Boulevard
By Eugene Bowles, Director of Publicity, Oakland Chamber of Commerce.
WHEN Baedeker's guide book, which
directs the itching foot where, when
and how to globe-trot, told the
world that Oakland had the finest scenic
drive in America, the Skyline Boulevard
was first discovered to most of Oakland.
At first blush this seems most repre-
hensible on the part of Oakland. But it's
not. It's only what makes the annual
crop of tourists — the lure that draws one
to view the attractions of foreign lands,
while he is unfamiliar with the sights of
his own home section.
It's only human nature. The greater
part of Chicago never heard the dying
squeal of a pig, thousands of Pittsburgers
never saw a white-hot railroad rail come
from the rolls, and it is notorious that
sailors don't know how to swim.
But this is "getting up in the air" over
the Skyline Boulevard, as it were — and
the Skyline is a motor road, not an air
lane.
To begin at the beginning, the road
cost Oakland practically nothing. About
all the expenditure there was, went for a
steam shovel. The work was done by
city prisoners. There had to be guards
and "grub" for these "trusties," of course,
but these would have had to be provided
anyhow.
The "trusties" and the shovel dug the
road out of the crest of the Contra Costa
hills and laid the roadbed with the ma-
terials they dug out. In other words,
America's finest scenic drive had lain all
ready at hand for centuries, only awaiting
the smoothing off of its rough edges and
the rounding out of its sharp corners.
So good a job was done by the "trusties"
and the steam shovel in finishing up
Nature's rough draft that an experienced
motorist can drive over the Skyline Boule-
vard with scarcely a shift in gears — "rid-
ing up high on high"and "sitting pretty"
all the while, as he climbs from sea level
to the highest point on the road, 1,421 feet
above the old Pacific. Even a novice can
pilot his car with ease over this drive.
Timid drivers usually take the route out
Park Bouvelard. This gives them the
inside of the road. But there is one sharp
hairpin turn just as one enters upon the
Skyline Boulevard, which sometimes taxes
one's driving abilities. Others prefer the
route by way of the Tunnel Road.
But either way will repay the motorist.
As the car rises gradually, the panorama
rolls wider and wider. Little by little the
hills fall away and the Bay rises up.
Oakland marches down her flowering ter-
races to the sea.
Past a turn in the road bordered by
pines and framed in the Golden Gate you
see the waves of the Pacific rolling cease-
lessly in from the Orient.
You swing around the shoulder of a hill,
and there lie different hills with trees of
another shade of green. The ocean is lost
to sight, but in its place one catches a
glimpse of towering redwoods — and these
were ages old when Pharaoh's daughter
adopted the baby Moses. For a quarter
of a mile the boulevard runs through
Contra Costa County — the only portion of
it not entirely within the city limits of
Oakland. Off to the northeast looms
Mount Diablo, the starting point of every
line fence in California.
Then the drive swings back to Oakland
and to vistas of ocean, bay, mountain,
forest, valley and plain. At one side
stands the Oakland City Hall, looking
like a toy house on the shores of Lake
Merritt. At the other side the Campanile
at the University of California points its
white finger at the blue sky. In between,
San Francisco's striking Ferry Building
stands out against the brown and purple
of Twin Peaks, with the shining Bay at its
feet.
It is just this diversity of scenery that
caused Baedeker's to tell the world that
the Skyline Boulevard is America's finest
scenic drive.
There are two best ways to enjoy the
Skyline — just after a rain when a north
wind is blowing and at night when the
moon is full. In the first instance one can
December. 1921
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
Section of the Skyline Boulevard, Oakland. California
THE GOLDEN GATE IX THE DISTANCE
look down on six counties. The eye may
range from the sleeping Indian maiden on
Mount Tamalpais to the orchard reaches
at San Jose. And at night — well, in other
cities they take you up to their high
places and bid you look down and wonder.
In New York they lead you to the top of
the Woolworth Building, and in Los
DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE
The declaration of war in 1914 was the
greatest event in history, then came the
Armistice and the Peace Congress in Paris
which overshadowed it, and now Ave have
the Disarmament Conference in Washing-
ton. This conference is likely to have a
more far-reaching effect on civilization
than either of the big events that pre-
ceded it. L nquestionably we have with
us today the most important body of men
ever assembled; a gathering of men on
whose deliberations hinges peace or war
again for the whole world.
Most fortunate it is that Christmas Dav
Angeles they lure you to Mount Lowe.
But here in Oakland is a scene that sur-
passes all. The next time the moon shines
bright, gather your family and your
friends in your car. drive over the Skyline
and you will see a dazzling, bejeweled
sight that will make you gasp in sheer
ecstasv.
comes just at this time when our own
representatives and those of other nations
are gathered in solemn council — during a
season of calm debate, of profound wis-
dom, of mighty import, when the darkling
probability of wars shall be dispelled by
the sunshine of perpetual peace.
On Christmas Day we should offer
united prayer, and from every American
heart, from every hearthstone, from every
church and from every altar we should
earnestly petition that these men be guided
by the hand of God, that from this council
may issue disarmament as a glorious fact
rather than a dwindling theory.
December, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
ROTARY LUNCHEON
ON WEDNESDAY, November 2nd,
the Berkeley Rotarians were guests
of the East Bay Water Company at
a luncheon held at the San Pablo filter
plant.
In his address to tbe Rotary Club,
President Edgerton stated that we were
planning on an expenditure of over $440,-
000 in Berkeley alone, as this sum is neces-
sary to improve the distribution system.
President Edgerton also stated that this
Company is today a sound, healthy finan-
cial institution because of its small out-
standing capitalization, and it is because
of this small outstanding capitalization
that the credit of the Company can be
maintained. He also spoke of the future
demands of the East Bay cities and stated
that this district has but a ten-year
supply, allowing for a normal growth.
Before that time has passed, all of the
work necessary, investigations, engineer-
ing and financial problems, and many
others, must be threshed out and the
actual bringing in of. a new supply must
be accomplished.
Curtis Wright, chairman of the manu-
facturers' committee, which is conducting
an investigation of the water supply of
the East Bay District, presided at the
meeting.
Vice-President and General Manager
Wilhelm also addressed tbe club.
The luncheon, which was most success-
ful, was under the auspices of the manu-
facturers' committee of the Berkeley
Rotary Club.
Following the luncheon the Rotarians
enjoyed seeing several of the huge filter
beds of the plant in operation. The
details of the nitration operations were
explained to the club members by Engi-
neers Magerstadt, Klaus and Reinhardt.
Berkeley Rotary Club Members
AT COAGULATING BASIN, SAN PABLO FILTER PLANT
December, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
It was out of the East the star first came,
But into the West falls its golden flame.
May the lights of its promise fall on you
And make all your Christmas dreams come true.
THIS will be the happiest holiday
season in history ! It is the old-
fashioned spirit of Christmas per-
vading the great world today. We have
peace, plenty and promise of wonderful
prosperity. Why then should we not
rejoice and spread sunshine?
And this is just what we are doing. Our
third annual joy drive started in the office
of the President, then Mr. Tasheira
and Mr. Creed joined the happy throng,
and those at the pumping plants responded
splendidly, and when we checked up the
list we found that each and every employee
Two of the Twelve Christmas Trees
6
December, 1921
"BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
in the main office had contributed to the
fund; then the list became restless and
decided to visit the yard, and Marilla did
the rest.
This year we have collected over $300,
and will provide for fourteen families with
trees 'n everything. With so many bread-
winners out of work at this season of the
year, Christmas would be devoid of joy
for many a child if we did not do our part,
and we are going to do it with a little
more of the Christmas spirit than in
former years because we have so much to
be thankful for.
The finance committee personally visited
the need}r families and investigated each
case thoroughly. Then the girls got busy,
and such rivalry over the dolls and their
costumes. Now we have eight fine trees
all decorated, the popcorn is all ready and
as usual, a good kind man in the office
brought apples and nuts and candy galore
for the stockings. Each kiddie must have
a stocking full of good things. We had
so much fun trimming the trees, buying
the groceries, the shoes, the underwear,
the dolls, the toys, planning the Christmas
dinner, in fact the spirit of love, good-
fellowship and Christmas cheer has per-
meated it all.
The night before Christmas, when the
sand man has arrived in each home, we
will place the trees on the trucks and
leave them at each home. Then what a
wonderful surprise for the kiddies on
Christmas morning when they know for
honest sure injun that there really and
truly is a wonderful Santa Claus and that
he did not fail them this year.
Each year we plan to not only bring
toys and food, but we try to help the
families by purchasing shoes and clothing
for the children. The families we helped
last year are not in need this year. The
little encouragement and the clothes which
we were able to send last year helped
them over the rough road, and that is our
plan this year.
To make Christmas a red letter day for
these unfortunate people who are almost
at the end of human endurance and to
have them realize that we are not giving
charity, but only a friendly hand to help
them over the rough road, is our ambition.
We want to wish our big happy family
a joyous Christmas.
I like the Christmas feeling;
There is nothing can compare
With the free and kindly spirit
That is spreading everywhere;
The rich, the poor, the young and old,
All catch its atmosphere,
And every heart for once is full
Of good old Christmas cheer.
CHRISTMAS WITHIN
Three hundred dollars, all shiny and bright,
We had to spend for Christmas night.
All for the orphans and kiddies wee,
Who have firm faith in Kriss Kringle, you see.
So we all fared forth to purchase the toys ;
Some were for girls and some for boys.
We bought them bears, and engines, and dolls,
Christmas trees, candy, and fol de rols.
And the night before Christmas, when tired eyes were closed,
We sneaked in our gifts where wee ones reposed.
We all felt better that we had come through,
And helped these dear hearts their faith to renew.
And dream we will this Christmas night,
Of faces dear that shined so bright.
December, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
.,**».
A. Penna
TyHY don't my passengers
" pay carfare? I take
heem here, I take heem
there, and no money do they
pay. That's no good busi-
ness.
V. PlLLOTTI
old
T WISH for the good
-*- days of the Union Water
Company, when we had
plenty of work and kicks
about poor service.
J. Towstsend
T WISH that I had a
-*- helper, and I want so
many other things that
there won't be room enough
so I'll say Happy New Year.
J. Am ARAL
]i/rY, but how I like duck,
-L'-*- and my one wish for
this Christmas time is that
they would be kind to me
and grow without feathers.
C. Jensen
t^IXING meters is my
-*- hobby. I hope we will
always have meters to fix.
E. McKlNNEY
T WANT to do all the
*- hiring and firing around
here for about one year.
"Grappo" Sand
t'LL TAKE the same wish
■*- that Harry Agnew wished
and whatever Harry orders
I'll take the same.
F. Cafasso
t WISH that I had a new
-*- boss. The one I have
makes me work too hard
and too long, and I am not
a strong man.
C. Sorba
\ LL the time I lose and
■**- lose. No luck. Here's
hoping that I win at least
50-50 during the year 1922.
P. SlIALLY
rpHAT Old Man Volstead
-1- had died in his youth.
I want the good old days
again with my foot on the
rail and asking for it
straight.
December, 1921
"BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
.—.. :J::'.„
W. Andersox
T WISH that the picks
-*• would remain sharp for
a few weeks as I have night-
mare sometimes.
G. Perrone
T AM thankful that Dar-
-*- win's theory does not ap-
ply to me, and I wish that
I could find the fountain of
youth again.
Verda Williams
T WISH that his salary
-*- was sufficient to support
two. I hate to wait, but
maybe he will get a nice fat
raise for a New Year's pres-
ent. Here's hoping.
rusty
F. Cresst
HOPE that my Con-
stable's badge never gets
M. Brusosco
SOME of you boys might
give me a recipe for grow-
ing a fine mustache. Mine
is a minus quantity, and I
work so hard with it.
"Honey" Jasper
t WOULD like at least a
-*- good whiff of something
besides gasoline.
W. Miller
I WISH someone would
present me with a
cushion. The springs in
the truck are a minus
quantity.
James Moffit
T WISH that I had two
-*- Chevrolets. I need them
in my business, as the one I
have gets sick so often, and
then walkiiig is bad.
Bob Waterman
I WISH I had more "pep.
God knows I need it.
Fred Brownell
XXTR SIMPLY must have
" * longer nights. The
days seem so long, but it is
always morning after the
night before.
December, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bav Water Co.
J. Mayerhoffer
t WISH that I had a
-*- shorter name. I get so
tired of having people ask
me and then forgetting it.
I say it so often I am be-
ginning to stutter.
Marilla Williams
Ap" CHRISTMAS wish is
1 x that conditions will
change so that I will not
have to face and refuse
these poor desperate men
who have been seeking work
lor so many days, and who
really need it for their
families' sake.
N. HeBEISN
T WISH that I could like
-*- my job a little more. I
just hate it. but the fellows
I work with are so nice I
hate to leave.
Jack Griffix
V LL I want is the boys to
Jr*- stay away from my
home so that she will never
know as much about me as
thev do.
Floyd Caya
t WISH that my wife
-*- would not insist on
meeting me every pay-day.
A. Moxtano
"V"ICE, shiny, plastered hair
^ would do for a change.
Everyone around here makes
fun of my curly hair, and
I am looking for something
to take the kink out of it.
* f 4
F. Kitchen
T WANT a nice little com-
pass that will work south
of Eighty-third Avenue.
There are other things, but
I am modest, I am.
Bill Dierks
s~\ EE ! I wish the women
^-*" would leave me alone.
Every time I turn I see
them, and they flirt with me
and make me so embar-
rassed.
WlLLIA3I WlLKIXS
rpHAT England will annex
x the United States; that
Ireland shall be free and
India have home rule.
Harry Kxowles
(")H, for a marcel wave!
" This is a tip for the
hoys: Castor oil will make
hair grow. Eve tried it.
10
December, 1921
'BUBBL E S
East Bar Water Co.
George Hunter
J HOPE that I will never
■*- have to ride in another
Ford, and that we will have
plenty of work for next year
so that we can take care of
some of the unemployed.
$ $ $ A. Solomon $ $ $
Foreman Collectors
T WISH that everybody
-*- would pay their bill at
the door and that our routes
were "Longer." I wish for
all the collectors a regular
turkey and the fixin*s on
Christmas Day.
James G. Finch
THINK Mac's wish is
lead pipe cinch:
wish for the same thing
like a Finch.
Les Travers
T HAVE a modest little
■*■ wish, and that is no joke.
I just would like to have
less work to do.
W. H. Blais
rpHAT our services will
-*- grow and our friends be
many is my Christmas wish.
Ray O'Connor
npHAT I will always be
-*- able to smile and l)e
asked to do anything but
read meters in 1922.
Chas. Fieberling
Foreman Meter Readers
T WANT the gophers to
■*■ find some other place of
amusement than the meter
boxes in Alameda. I want
to give three cheers for the
whole crowd and to wish
that I will always have a
happy bunch to work with.
Walter Stoddard
T WOULD like a new pipe
-*- that will taste as good
as the old one and I hope
everybody will greet me in
a pleasant manner.
F. R. Pretti
Service Foreman
T DON'T wish that every-
-*- body would pay their
bill promptly because if they
did I would lose my job.
but I do hope that no one
will rob my basement.
Ralph Boyd
Chief Collection Department
-T WISH that the cash
-*- would balance every day
for a couple of months and
that I won't have any occa-
sion to have a fight with
Estelle for at least a week.
11
December, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bav Water Co.
A. M. Deinkwatee
T WISH for the good old
days when a thirsty man
could wish you a Merry
Christmas in the proper
manner, but who knows
what some of my friends in
the office will produce on
the 25th.
W. E. Smith
Engineer in Charge,
Twenty-fourth Avenue
T HAVE only one little
-*- cause for worry, and I
hope that some day the big
engines at Twenty-fourth
will be completely over-
hauled. I am a modest man
and my wants are few.
Chas. Harry
Engineer in Charge,
Fitchburg
T HOPE that one of these
-*- days I will get some real
work to do and that we will
soon start Fitchburg Pump-
ing Station. I get so tired
doing nothing.
A. Garabaldi
Berryman Reservoir
T HAVE been in the ser-
-*- vice of the Company the
longest of any employee and
I have always been very
happy. I wish I had more
money so as to help the
other fellow and make this
a happier and better world.
Edgar Browxeix
Engineer, Rose Street
AfY MAIN" wish is that the
x ■■*• repair gang will stay
away from this place for at
least a couple of hours so
that I can get a chance to
clean it up myself.
i„
F. S. Goetz
Night Clerk
rpHAT some day I will
x work in the daylight like
a regular fellow, and spend
my evenings without looking
at a switchboard.
X
F. L. Harlow
Lake Superintendent,
Temescal
OW that I have electric
lights in my house, the
Lord only knows what else
I want. I am satisfied!
BUT I may think of some-
thing else before the end of
the year.
J. Caldera
Extra Pumper
T WISH that the Water
*- Company would have its
pumping plants placed a
little nearer together so that
I won't have to drive all
over the United States
every time I have to relieve
someone.
Charles Lewis
T HAVE cold feet and a
-*■ warm heart, but I would
like a little real heat in the
garage. My hands get cold,
and I have no one to hold
them.
C. E. Clark
Richmond
\ MERRY CHRISTMAS
■^*- and Happy New Year
to all. Here's hoping that
we will grow to 10,000 ser-
vices in 1922.
12
December, 1921
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
A. Birox
"V"0 wonderful things I wish
-^ for myself, but my
friend Pedro, now it is a
different thing. I wish that
he had his 400 bucks.
R. Whitakes
■vrV wish is surely a mod-
■"■*■ est one, and it seems
rather silly to ask for it,
but really I wish that I had
been born Irish.
Sol Hyiian
T WANT somebody to dis-
-*- cover a new recipe for
making salame. I want peo-
ple to understand that I
have a kind heart even if I
have to turn off water.
Harry Agsew
ArY LITTLE car does not
■"■'- run very fast. I wish
somebody would strangle
the "constabule" at Niles.
/!?
J. Whitaker
TUST to be single again
" and to know what it
would mean to have your
own little check at the end
of the week to spend as you
like. That's the life!
W. Hale
vyEEDS. Weeds and More
* * Weeds. I wish they
wouldn't grow so thick
around the Piedmont Reser-
voir.
W. Attfield
t WISH that the Company
■*- needed two blacksmiths,
and I want all the boys to
have a happy time this
Christmas, and to be thank-
ful they have a job.
P. Havens
rpHAT styles in skirts will
-*- never change. That I
may meet the one and only
at the next East Bay Water
Company's dance.
H. Hart
'HAT the drivers will all
be careful and no ma-
chines will be wrecked in
1922. I wish you all a
Happy Xew Year.
T!
L. L. Farrell
Superintendent Transmission
and Distribution
\TY CHRISTMAS wish is
-L^-*- that some kind hearted
Santa will slip me a "season
ticket" for a certain show
on Tenth Street so that I
would have sufficient reason
for patronizing said show
without undo comment. Of
course Row A. Seat 1, would
be the most acceptable as 1
am verv near-sighted.
13
December, 1921
BUBBLE S
East Bay Water Co.
Tim Tierney
Superintendent, San
Leandro
T HOPE that San Leandro
-1- Lake will always be so
full we will never have to
worry about the water sup-
ply, and I want everyone in
the Company to have a
happy Christmas.
C. Hoessli
Pumper, Claremont
TVXY EARNEST wish is
-'■■*■ that some day Dick Hol-
royd will put a float on the
Claremont tank that will be
of some good.
R. HOLROYD
T WOULD like to have a
-*■ Ford made out of rubber.
E. Sheppard
Pumper, Prospect
T AM a modest man, and
-1- my wants are few, but I
would like a good road up
to the Pfeiffer Receiver.
Just a nice road with eight
or six bumps taken out of it.
W. H. Evans
In Charge San Pablo
T HAVE just one little
■*- wish right now, and that
is a nice cottage at the filter
plant. (Here's hoping he
gets it.)
I i
J. H. MORGAX
Eugineer, San Lorenzo
T WANT a nice set of false
-*- teeth that won't fall out
every time I try to do a
little talking, especially
when I get excited.
W. L. Carpenter
Pumper, Berryman
T AM a man of peace. All
-*- I want and ask is that
my neighbors will leave me
alone and not kick so much.
Jos. Spaan
Pumper, Diamond (Fortieth
Street)
JUST a little garage for
" me at Fortieth Street to
help in the high cost of
living.
Jos. Perry
Caretaker, San Leandro
T WISH that the gophers
J- would take a nice long
vacation and give me a
chance to eat a little turkey
at home so I would not have
to worry about the holes in
the ground.
J. J. Kelly
Pumper, Pleasant Valley
and Bowman
"ly/rY CHRISTMAS wish is a
■***- very modest one I as-
sure you. All I want is a
sleeping porch on my house
and then I will be a happy
man.
14
December, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
v^BEBk~-^:
Peter Paulsox
T WISH that I did not have
-*■ to pack rocks in my
pockets to keep the women
away. They worry me to
death.
J. AIiller
T WOULD like to have the
-*- pavement look neat and
tidy for a couple of days,
but not all the time, as I
need the money.
Jim Nelson
T WAXT all the bad boys
-*- to reform and cease
breaking the meters for at
least a year so that I can
get them all repaired.
J. Firpo
T WAXT to invent a Ford
*- that will run without gas.
otherwise I am satisfied with
this old world and every-
thing in it.
J. Hosigsjiax
TF YOU are wishing you
-^ might just as well wish
for something nice, and
plenty of it, so 1*11 take a
vineyard.
I
Max Rochitsci-ii
T F I could take off my hat
-*■ without getting cold I
would be satisfied. Some of
our wants are very small.
Tim Suber
rpHAT I will have enough
■*- pumps to repair in 1922
to keep me comfortably
busy — not rushed.
Duke Staxdiford
HP HAT I had a new set of
-*- teeth and a little more
pep, and that some day I
won't have to cut my own
hair.
L. C. Clementi
TVTHY are things so mixed
* * up in this world ?
What's a mere 200 gallons in
a man's life? I want more.
James Gallagher
xpOR the good old days
-*- when Corley's was open
and a man could get cheer-
ful even though he wasn't.
15
December, 1921
BUBBLE S
East Bay Water Co.
B. Dohms
TUST send me a good
" recipe for growing hair.
If I had more I know it
would improve my appear-
ance, and make me happy.
A. Delfava
tT is lonesome living alone.
■*- First I will try Bubbles
and tell the girls I am a
single man, and see if I will
have any luck.
"Birdie" Sparrow
"\rOST people tell me that
"*■-*- I am handsome, but all
I want is a perfect "36,"
and, with my face, I would
just "knock "em dead."
F. Stagnaro
T HAVE a wish that has
-*- been wished a good many
times in the last few years.
I want a Ford that does not
need any tires.
W. SCHLENKER
TV/TY ONLY wish is that
■*--*- some day I will meet a
certain charming lady.
R. Sjiith
• »T}OP" is a long way from
-"- Twenty-second and Ad-
eline. I wish that he would
move a little closer, then we
would treat him well.
P. CORXACHIA
IF THE little leaks will
-*- just stay off Adeline
Street and choose some
other neighborhood for a
change I'll be a happy man.
Jack Zimmerman
T JUST want the nights to
-1- be a little longer and
that some day I'll make the
big league with a regular
salary.
W. Parker
WISH the noon hour
-*- was longer so I could
have more time to talk and
be sociable.
A. Quilici
A rY boss, by gum. I don't
-"-*■ think he very good. I
wish I had a good boss.
16
December, 1921
"BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
A REAL VACATION
ON September 17th I started on a vaca-
tion which was to last six weeks. My
wife and I left for Los Angeles and
proceeded to New Orleans, arriving Sep-
tember 21st. We had a fine trip. New
Orleans is a very old city, with a French
history, and the French people still retain
a great many of the customs of the mother
country. There are buildings of French
design which have been standing about 200
years. We found them very interesting.
We stayed in New Orleans three days, and
sweltered, but we liked the city on our
sight-seeing trips. It is a city apart and
with an individuality all its own.
September 25th we started for Wash-
ington. Our great Uncle Sam has a won-
derful home. We visited all the Govern-
ment buildings. They are all of stone or
marble and cost from $1,000,000 to
$5,000,000 each. The Library of Congress
building is considered one of the finest in
the world, and cost the Government nearly
seven billion dollars, including its site. An
elevator runs to the top of the Washington
Monument, which is 555 feet high. We
had a wonderful view at the top of the
city and surrounding country. Mount
Vernon, the home of Washington, is beau-
tiful, and overlooks the Potomac River.
The house was built in 1743.
Next stop was Baltimore. Did not care
much about it. But the large reservoir,
which supplies most of the city with water,
interested me. It is fully as large as Lake
Merritt, but very deep, and in the center
it has a beautiful fountain spray resem-
bling a very large date palm, nearly forty
feet high.
Next we visited Philadelphia, and found
the city well laid out and very clean. Here
we had our first experience in riding in
the subways, and we were surprised to see
how fast one could get around the city,
but every time we came up to the surface
we lost our bearings and we would have
to call on the traffic cop. We visited John
Wanamaker's department store, which is
one of the largest in the world. The
building covers the entire square and is
sixteen stories high, including the two
basement stories. The subway trains run
under the building, and most of the em-
ployees take the subway to and from work.
They have a fine concert every day at
11:45 and 4:45.
We also visited Atlantic City, which has
the largest sea bathing beach and the
longest board walk in the world. We
arrived just in time for a fine thunder
storm with plenty of lightning.
On October 2nd we entered the Big
City through the tube, which is sixty feet
under the Hudson River. It surely is
some place, and in the eleven days we were
there we had a great many thrills. We
stopped in the theater zone, the gay White
Way. You never see the same person twice
on the streets, as the crowds are so dense
everywhere. There are so many electric
signs and lights that night is practically
turned into day. Everybody seems to
know everyone. The traffic cops, with the
assistance of the mounted police, are kept
busy handling the immense crowds. After
the theaters are out you are entertained
at the roof gardens.
From New York we went to Buffalo,
and then to Niagara Falls, which is so
wonderful that you don't want to talk
when you gaze at the water with the sun
shining on it and always a beautiful rain-
bow. The noise of the water falling is
terrific.
We then visited Detroit, then Chicago,
which is a rival of New York in some
respects. We stayed there five days, and
visited the principal points of interest, and
then got under way for St. Louis, which is
a very dirty city, but it has many fine
buildings, parks and drives, but the streets
are dirty.
Next we visited Denver, which is a
beautiful, clean city. We visited Lookout
Mountain over the high line boulevard,
then Pike's Peak and the Royal Gorge,
where we found the scenery most beautiful;
in fact, from Colorado Springs to Salt
Lake City the scenery is very wonderful.
Salt Lake City is interesting. We
visited the Mormon Temple and the Taber-
nacle.
We enjoyed our trip both going and
coming, but first, last and all the time,
give me California, and I am glad to be
home with you all again. Louis Burbank
17
December, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Issued by
EAST BAY WATER COMPANY
Edited by the Employees
and devoted to their interest and benefit.
Address communications to Bubbles, care of
East Bay Water Company
512 Sixteenth Street
Oakland California
George H. Wilhelm Editor-in-Chief
Charles E. Thatcher Managing Editor
Helen P. Armstrong.. ..Asst. Managing Editor
John R. Hunter Business Manager
Writers on Technical Matters
F. J. Klaus Asst. Chief Engineer
H. Reinhardt Asst. Chief Engineer
P. E. Magerstadt... Designing Engineer
Paul I. Daniels Sanitary Engineer
Geo. Hawley Res. Engr. San Pablo Unit
W. R. Curtin Engineering Department
Correspondents
Oakland District J. P. Fieberling
Berkeley District Wm. H. Blais
Alameda District G. A. McKean
Richmond District C. E. Clark
Corporation Yard Marilla M. Williams
Vol. V. DECEMBER, 1921 No. 2
OUT OF THE SHADOWS INTO
THE SUNLIGHT
EACH day from the hand of God you
are given the dawn of a new life as
the sun gives birth to the morning.
Each day is your new jewel from which
to coin love, health and energy and ambi-
tion.
Life owes us all something — if we've
protected our investment. If we don't
there's trouble and disappointment. Every
minute contains possibilities for happiness,
harmony and love. Every day is a fresh
beginning, every morn is the world made
new.
The sun lifting the blanket of night
from the hills could tell vou of the million
hearts that use every minute of the day
unselfishly and shed around them the love-
light of a thousand smiles.
Out of the shadow of night the world
moves into light, it is daybreak every-
where. With the coming of the morning
God breathes love and ambition into your
soul and with the evening star he seals the
record of your past. Then try to make
that soul the spirit of hope and truthful-
ness ; energize each day with the love of
your whole being.
Are you proud of your yesterdays ? As
you drink in God's love message sent on
the wings of dawn, close your ears to the
gossip of the past and know that with the
clear breath of morning you are endowed
with limitless ambition, ability, energy
and dauntless courage and the will to
accomplish all worth-while things.
CHRISTMAS TONIGHT
Christmas again, with its peace and good
will and wonder ! How friends increase
and multiply in value as the Day of Days
draws near. How the touch of human
hands thrills us and the look in human
eyes. To our surprise we are not ashamed
to be good, to be kind, to be loving. For
this little space out of the long selfish
year we are glad to be ourselves. We give
freely of our love, we offer our labor with-
out price, and we speak kindly words that
are rarer than rubies. Once more we take
courage and let our hearts have their way,
and life laughs and is glad. When Christ-
mas comes the world suddenly grows
better ; sin less lovely and Heaven nearer ;
and all because a Little .Boy was born in
Bethlehem. Perhaps — .who knows ? — we
might carry with us throughout the year
the joy of this Christmas living.
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS CAROL
Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings
of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall
find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,
lying in a manger.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
good will toward men.
— Luke's Gospel.
18
December, 1921
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
CHRISTMAS EVE IN BORDEAUX
"Yea, though I walk in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I shall
fear no evil for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
— Psalms 24.
RAINING, muddy, slushy, bleak and
dismal. It has been raining for
months, it seemed.
A man in an American uniform, with
captain's bars on his shoulders, walked
towards the cable office. His face showed
worry, and strain and the dismal weather
left its depressing mark on his face. The
news from home had been bad. His little
boy was sick, very sick. Perhaps the
cable he would send would act as a tonic.
The cable filed, the man in the captain's
uniform walked back to where his "outfit"
was quartered. At mess, he was unusually
quiet. Taps sounded.
The officer in his bunk, for it was no
more than a bunk, stopped still, with one
shoe in his hand and the other on his
foot. The long drawn wail of the bugle,
the saddest and the most beautiful of all
army music, floated out on the moaning
night and ended in a whisper. . . .
Christmas morning the outfit marched
down to the dock, singing and whistling
despite the terrible weather and the early
hour. Many of the 1,500 that marched
had been through the "Valley of the
Shadow of Death," and fearing not, came
through unscathed. Among them was the
man in the captain's uniform.
The regimental band was playing
"Homeward Bound," a pretty little piece
of music that became popular about the
time the Armistice was signed. It cheered
the atmosphere somewhat, and lightened
the load of the terrible rain and sloppiness
of France.
The vessel was the Santa Theresa, a
little tight-riveted band box of a clipper
that had been built for Grace Brothers for
the South American trade.
By dawn the Santa Theresa pulled out
of the stream, the executive officer pulled
the whistle cord and dipped his ensign.
The bos'un's mate reported: "Under
weight, sir," and the duty officer replied:
"Very well, take the wheel." The bos'un's
mate said: "Aye 'ave sir," as he saluted
with a snap, and disappeared in the pilot-
house.
The sun was high in the heaven when
the Santa Theresa cut the waters of the
Bay of Biscay. The vessel rolled and
pitched and strained and jerked and
dipped. The sun was appreciated, and
the man in the captain's uniform felt a
little happier. He had tasted that morn-
ing pork sausages and fried eggs, for the
first time in a year.
The man paced the deck and wondered
how it fared back in God's country. He
began thinking of the time. . . .
In our own city this man's wife tended
to her duties and saved and scraped and
thanked her Maker every time the mes-
senger boy passed her house instead of
coming in as he had done to so many of
the homes of her friends. For casualty
lists as published in the newsapers were
behind the times, and the War Depart-
ment used to send telegrams that usually
began with "We regret to inform you — "
The little boy had been tossing and
moaning on his crib for days. The crisis
came Christmas evening. The kindly old
white-haired doctor, whose son lay sleep-
ing in the "sunny, happy Philippines, land
of dopey dreams," looked on the careworn,
anxious face of the mother and smiled.
"He's sleeping quietly. It is good. I
think he will get better. If he could only
get a great surprise, something he has been
wanting very much, it will help," said the
doctor.
The mother looked happier. Her eyes
were shining, but a shadow crossed her
face. "His father is in France, he wants
him back. I am afraid it will be a long
time. The army is so slow, with its red
tape," she replied.
The old doctor shook his head and left.
Christmas morning in the wife's home,
dawned cold, snappy and bright, with a
19
December, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
weak, pale sun trying to fulfill the poet's
song that beyond every Winter there was
a Spring.
The little child opened his eyes, dull,
tired, but with a healthy light. The
mother sang, she was so happy at the
child's recovery.
"Oh, I wish daddy would come," said
the child.
The front door bell rang. The mother's
face blanched and her hand went to her
mouth. She saw a messenger boy's cap
through the lace curtains. She took two
steps toward the door and halted. Her
breath was drawn in and out convulsively.
"God, oh God, don't tell me he's dead,"
she muttered as she went slowly to the
door and opened it.
She signed for the telegram with shak-
ing hands, closed the door and went toward
the child with it in her hand. With quick-
ening breath and wide, terror-stricken
eyes, she opened it. It read:
"Merry Christmas. Leave for home
today. De Witt."
She told the child what it meant and
he laughed and cried, and his illness was
no more.
This story was told to me by the man.
I have written it for Bubbles.
MY CALIFORNIA
WHEN I say, "My California," I do
not mean that I own California ; that
is, not all of it. I own some of it,
but I did not think when I bought it that
I was going to own it forever. The fellow
that sold it to me said I would sell it
sometime at a profit. But he was a poor
prophet.
But I love California as only a "Native
Son" — of New Hampshire — can love it. I
love its soil. Those lots that I own are
in Los Angeles. I have an attachment for
those lots that I shall never lose. That is,
it looks now as though I never should.
I just noticed yesterday that the deeds
read, "To have and to hold."
But the dream of my life is sometime
to settle down in my own little bungalow,
on my own little ranch, and there, with
my own little home brewery, to dream the
happy hours away, seeing other visions of
other days and other places. And where
can you find more to recall such visions
than on a California ranch?
You arise in the morning to the music
of a Connecticut alarm clock, you put on
your Munsing underwear, made in Min-
neapolis, hitch your Boston garters to
your Paris socks, button your Baltimore
suspenders on your Duluth overalls, put
on your Lynn, Massachusetts, shoes, your
Connecticut hat, and you are up for the
day.
You sit down to your table, made in
Grand Rapids, eat your Hawaiian pine-
apple, your Quaker Oats, and your Aunt
Jemima flapjacks swimming in New
Orleans molasses.
Then you go out and put on your Con-
cord, New Hampshire, harness on your
Missouri mule, hitch onto your Moline,
Illinois, plow, and plow up a couple of
acres covered with Ohio mortgages.
At noon you dine on Cincinnati ham,
cooked in Chicago lard, on a Detroit stove
burning Wyoming coal.
And then at night you fill up your
Detroit automobile with Mexican gasoline
and dash out to the beach, and in a Greek
restaurant, while smoking a Boston-made
cigar, you watch a New York girl dance
the Memphis Shimmey to the music of a
New Orleans jazz band.
And then, upon returning home, you
read a chapter out of a bible printed in
London, England, say a prayer written
in Jerusalem, put on your China silk
pajamas, crawl in between Fall River
sheets to fight all night with fleas, the only
home product on your whole ranch.'
KNEW THE WORST
Mrs. Springup was almost in tears.
"Isn't it dreadful?" she wailed to a
friend. "Marion refuses to live with
Lieutenant Bulbus, and she only married
him last month."
"You don't say so? What's the
trouble?" gasped the friend.
"Oh, Marion came across a photograph
of him taken in civilian clothes." — London
Answers.
20
December, 1921
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
fcnUY MIMLHil
Mir I IJp4i i# 1# b#^fcK#^l
Bv William Aichbee
The only thing that seems to fit skin
tight is a coat of tan.
After disarmament may come dislega-
ment — and away go the liquor boots.
Now that Ireland is free, she will no
longer bend the knee — except in prayer.
Now that the war is over it's all right
to evade the draft if you wish to avoid the
flu.
If you want to give a boy a "big time"
this Chirstmas, give him a Ningersol
watch.
We have just found out why girls bob
their hair. They don't wish to wear it any
longer.
A diplomat is a man who is wise enough
to know when it is prudent to appear
ignorant.
Yes, readers, these paragraphs flow from
the pen of L. E. Waterman, not an E. B.
Water man.
A girl strangled herself with a necktie
in Pittsburg recently. She had trouble
with her bow.
The reason that Congress put the kibosh
on beer for medicinal purposes was that
it is Teu tonic.
After all, a girl may be better than she
is "painted." Can't tell, maybe she lives
in an inside room.
We could understand each other better
when we talk over the phone if we would
talk one at a time.
Look out, you fellows who bank so much
on your dignity. You're liable to over-
draw your account.
Some professors are discussing whether
food or powder won the war. Well, any-
way, lipsticks didn't.
A man always knows when he is bow-
legged. Well, girls, men have a little
sense, don't you think?
Some of them are "dear" girls, while
others are less expensive. The less expen-
sive, the more sensible.
Send a Christmas telegram to your
mother. She will appreciate the thought
in you. Don't forget it.
The idea of prohibition got started away
back in the early 60s, when a woman told
her husband to "dry up."
Yes, the Volstead law is on steady,
though a Knight falls occasionally, and
is arrested as day breaks.
The flirt who takes it out in winking,
and lets it go at that, can always have a
lot of fun at a moderate cost.
Some men are so ungrateful that they
do not even sympathize with one who
worries about their business.
Hasten that happy day when our sweet-
hearts will remember to be as polite in
June as they are in December.
Have you noticed that some of the worst
dressed men in town have wives who are
among the best dressed women?
One woman hung a jury in San Fran-
cisco recently. When woman wills she
will to the extent of 100 per cent.
Most of our self-made men have sons
who could well be re-modeled by the
sculptor while the clay is yet soft.
If the devil fish is the "germ of the
ocean," how about some of the deviled
crab we get on land, out of season ?
If our doctors would write their pre-
scriptions in the same language they write
their bills, we could understand them.
21
December, 1921
•BUBBLES
East Bav Water Co.
Mabel's wish is a simple one. She
wishes that when she is thirty-one she will
stay that way until she is forty-one.
An employment agency has been estab-
lished in Europe for ex-kings. They will
have a hard time digging up references.
And now the war brides are to hold a
disarmament conference for the purpose
of scrapping a lot of "shock" troopers.
Here's hoping that we have a dry
Christmas — that is. without rain and heavy
fog — otherwise, well, otherwise, let it be
wet.
There will still be some shopping to do
the night before Christmas — for the friend
whom yon didn't think would remember
you.
A Christmas present is better than a
Christmas past. Here's hoping your
Christmas present will be better than the
last.
What is there for a man to say under
the circumstances ? Nothing — nothing at
all. you poor fool — the woman has all the
say.
Look up some poor kiddie and make him
or her happy this Christmas. You can do
it for fifty cents, and you won't miss the
change.
Girls who were born in December should
wear a ring set with Turquoise blue, then
success will come to you — if you keep
your head.
"Does a woman ever get so old that
compliments have no* charm for her? we
are asked. We don't know — we have never
met one that old.
When a man comes home full to the
dome of rotten bootleg brandy, it's then
his wife, with carving knife, should show
him she is handy.
Initiative is doing the Right thing with-
out being told. Next to doing the right
thing without being told is to do it when
you are told Once.
We don't hear so much about the high
cost of living. The problem now is getting
over the old habits and cutting down the
cost of high living.
Marilla, your new picture proves that
there is a time in the lives of all young-
girls when they begin to grow younger.
It seems that "Art," as construed by
the magazines, appears to be the picture
of a woman wearing a small article of
clothing and a smile.
Listen, you fellows who are about to
make love to some blushing rosebud — no
man can answer for his courage who has
never been in danger.
Here's a chance for some bright youth.
An understudy is wanted at the U. C.
Farm for the professor who is angling for
the worms in wormwood.
Have you noticed how some of the
demagogues shout for a "square deal" for
the dear people, even if a corporation gets
skinned through the deal?
Euripides died in 406 B. C. — some little
time before prohibition. If there's any-
thing in re-incarnation, he has been back
to earth several times since.
Maud Muller on a summer's day won't
rake the meadow sweet with hay, but on
a summer's dav she goes the length of
Broadway to show her hose.
We hope the politicians in Congress will
abolish party lines. We're tired of listen-
ing to the chat of our neighbor every time
we want to call up our grocer.
The Declaration of Independence gave
us "life, liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness." but many, in the pursuit of the
latter, have lost the first two.
No. Cordelia, blondes are not neces-
sarily light sleepers. There are just as
many blondes tardy to work in the morning
as there are of the henna kind.
Delia's wish is that he will buy her
something better this Christmas — some-
thing with a ring to it — like a diamond —
or something to seal their friendship — like
a seal skin.
Mary had a little skirt, it barely reached
her knees, and every time the wind -.vould
blow. Mary would almost freeze. She
sauntered out one chilly day — it was an
awful thing to do — and now little Mary
lies in bed — poor kid, she's got the flu.
22
December, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bav Water Co.
"BUBBLES" from OUR
CORRESPONDENTS
OAKLAND • BERKELEY
ALAMEDA • RICHMOND
CORPORATION YARD
GENERAL OFFICES— Mr. Fulton,
who will be remembered by the old
timers as Superintendent for the
Contra Costa Water Company, and who
built a large part of the masonry work
at Lake Chabot, was in to see us recently.
Bruce Lilly is
wearing a ver y
happy smile, but we
feel rather miffed.
Surely you might
have found one in
Oakland. But we'll
forgive you as we
know you met her
before you came
here to work.
Stacy Brownlee is
our new janitor and
is taking the posi-
tion of Ebb Brown,
who is having a lit-
tle vacation.
J. P. FlEBERI.IXG
Correspondent
Mrs. Adelyne F. Clark is working tem-
porarily at the Richmond Office on account
of the extra work occasioned by the
acquisition of the Union Water Company.
We are all indebted to Mr. Wilhelm
for a "round" of ducks, and we surely
enjoyed them. As Clarence says. "They
look powahful mean for dinnah."
Harold A. Davie, with the Engineer
Corps in France, was killed in action on
October 9, 1918. Previous to his enlist-
ment Harold was with us at the Central
Reservoir. Mr. and Mrs. Davie wish to
thank the Company for the floral offerings
sent for the interment of their son at the
Presidio recently.
In the good old days man used to marry
a woman for a dot — now he marries her
for a period.
Auditor Sedgwick will spend the holi-
days with his sister in Sacramento. Some
wealthy people can travel, we notice.
Jan. 1, 1921— "1921 will reward fighters."
Julv 1, 1921 — "1921 is rewarding fighters."
Dec. 31, 1921— "1921 has rewarded fighters."
Will you say so too?
Time was when we had two and three
engaged girls at a time. Now we feel at
a loss. All we have is a few suspects.
Messrs. Daniels and Magerstadt have
had their vacation. A little late, but better
late than never. Dr. Daniels built a
garage on his estate, while Mr. Magerstadt
planned a new home on the hills overlook-
ing Lake Temescal.
Mr. Jack Hunter lias a brand new
Buick, and he says it is some machine.
Another year, another span of living,
Another page turned over with the rest ;
Accejjt this wish that we are giving,
That this year be to you, of all, the best.
The little top with its "P. 4" "T. 2"
keeps some of us entertained.
H. R. — Do you share your wife's sor-
rows ?
C. J. A. — Yes, she blames me for every-
thing.
One Attraction at a Time
Lleard on the fourth floor:
She — I do hope he will admire my new
hat.
The Other She — Then you'd better wear
longer skirts.
It is suggested that the locker room on
the fourth floor be kept neat and tidy.
Heard on the first floor during "Better
S]3eech Week" :
"Gee, it sure gets my goat, the bum
grammar some of them Janes around here
sling."
There was a young ladv named Tootie
Taluth. '
Who married her beau, a foolish young
youth.
When he appeared at the wicket for her
honeymoon ticket.
He said to the clerk, "I want two to Du-
luth."
23
December, 1921
BUBBLES'
East Bay Water Co.
BUSINESS OFFICE— Time in its re-
morseless flight has again brought us to
the holiday season, and, as we look back
over the year, how many unforeseen
changes have taken place and how dif-
ferent many things are. In our immediate
circle of friends and relatives, faces that
greeted us with a kindly smile a year ago
have vanished from our midst, while on
the other hand, to take their places, we
have the happy cherubic faces of the newly
born, who, in the process of time, will
develop into men and women and then in
the same ceaseless way pass on. Yet,
through all these changes, and in spite of
our sorrows, most of us are filled with glad-
ness and rejoicing, for is it not the annual
festive celebration of the birthday of one
whose memory and works have prevailed
through countless ages and trying times,
and is it not the time to think of our
fellow men in His spirit and teachings?
Friends, let us all be happy in the Christ-
mas spirit ; let us all know and relaize that
the Blue Bird is not an elusive thing, but
is within us all, and that we can find
happiness and comfort in our immediate
surroundings and among our friends and
office associates and in our work. Let us
resolve that with the New Year we shall
be optimistic and forebearing, and in this
joyous tinselled happy time let us extend
to our employers, customers, friends and
associates best wishes for a merry and
glorious Christmas and New Year.
Mrs. Lahr, Mrs. Beekman and Miss
Farrell are very busy these days organiz-
ing matters in conformity with our annual
policy of making glad the hearts of a few
distressed families, especially the children.
They are the committee in charge, but have
been extended every assistance and help by
the other employees, whenever necessarj^.
It is a truly wonderful thing to unselfishly
help others, particularly during the Yule-
tide season.
Helen Jensen was confined to her home
for a few days with a slight touch of the
"flu." She is back at her desk again and
is feeling much better.
During the stress of taking over the
Union Water Company's system, Mr.
Dutton and Mr. Maloney have been used
to advantage in both the meter reading
and collection departments.
Collector Jack Reilley was quite sick
for over a week. He thought he would be
in style by having the "flu," but he says
styel or no style, he does not care to enter-
tain Mr. Flu very often.
Some of the employees are wearing a
brighter smile than usual these days. They
are the ones who started a Christmas sav-
ings account at the beginning of the year
and have received their checks for the
accumulated amount. Judging from the
expressions, both facial and verbal, we
believe that all should play the game next
year, as it, in many cases, has furnished
the necessary funds to allow folks to give
expression to their Christmas ideas. Thrift
pays in many unexpected ways.
Paul Nunn has proven himself a valu-
able addition to our office force. It has
been necessary at times to send him out
into the field, but he has taken hold nicely
and filled the bill at whatever task he has
been allotted.
Miss Nipper is very busy knitting a
pretty silk tie. She says it is her father's
Christmas present, but we have our
doubts.
We understand that Miss Ruth Woods,
formerly with this Company, is now in
the "Mrs." class, and we extend to her our
best wishes.
One reason dials on meters have to be
changed is shown at the Alameda District
business office. Exhibit A was taken from
a meter, and is composed of a spongy mass
of vegetable fiber in the shape of a cup-
cake, and is the result of a growth directly
under the dial of the meter. This growth
starts in a small way and gradually fills
the entire space until finally it becomes
wedged in so tight and compact that it
acts as a brake on the spindle of the meter.
This is one cause that makes it necessary
to put on new dials; there are other causes,
the meter repair department having nu-
merous exhibits. It is generally supposed
that bad boys do most of the damage with
rocks or some pointed instrument. Whether
this is true or not, we are not here to say,
but we can vouch for the cause and effect
of exhibit A, and refer you to the Meter
Department for further information.
24
December, 1921
"BUBBLE S
East Bay Water Co.
CENTRAL BILLING BUREAU— To
one and all we extend best wishes for a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
The girls in the department have
brought the Christmas cheer into the
office. We have a real Christmas tree, with
all the trimmin's. And such anxiety about
the numerous packages.
Ethel — Yes, you see the one with the red and
green ribbon on it. I saw Joe steal up here
last night and put it on the tree. Isn't it nice
to receive.
Gertrude — Yes, but more joyful to give. The
mother of those poor children we gave the
clothing to, and the presents we will bring
them, will weep for joy, I know.
In silence a profound thanks goes up to
those who contributed to the cheer of those
little ones.
"Just a litle bit of patience
Often makes the sunshine come,
And a little bit of love
Makes a very happy home.
A little bit of hope
Makes glad a dreary day.
And a little bit of charity
Makes glad a weary way."
Miss Davis expects to spend Christmas
with relatives at Modesto. Miss Mundell
will go to Oroville for the holiday festivi-
ties. Mrs. Beekman is visiting relatives
in Corona. Miss Forkey will eat turkey
with her sister in Sacramento. Miss Mul-
holland and Miss Rogers will stay in Oak-
land, of course. No greater attraction
outside of the city. Miss Brandt is partial
to Alameda. Mrs. Voigt contemplates a
journey to the country, and Mrs. Harring-
ton will spend the holiday season in her
own cozy home.
On December 10th we said good-bye to
the night force, Messrs. Tyson, Schu-
macher, Mitchell and Westfall. They
have been setting up records of accounts
taken over from the Union Water Com-
pany. The Misses Bolmen, Brown and
Cox, from Heald's Business College, are
employed temporarily on our street index
books.
The good old dinner bell always gets quick
action because it advertises a
welcome story.
Geo. A. McKean
Correspondent
ALAMEDA DISTRICT
THE GOOD news has been released by
our Vice-President and General Man-
ager, Geo. H. Wilhelm, that many
thousands of feet of large mains are going
to be installed in our city. This will mean
an expenditure of $140,000.00 on the part
of the East Bay
Water Company,
and will result in
the city of Alameda
being equipped with
a system of piping
that will not only
be adequate for
present needs, but
will provide for the
future growth for
years to come.
However, we hope
it will not be too
many years before
the city will again
grow up to the
capacity of even these large pipes, at which
time the Company will again come to the
rescue and install the necessary improve-
ments for a continuation of the high stand-
ard of efficiency demanded by our slogan,
"Quality, Quantity."
Under the supervision of George Hunter,
Superintendent of Construction, the roof
of our building received a thorough scrap-
ing and a nice coat of tar. George's
application not only put a stop to the con-
tinual dripping we had been accustomed to
during the Winter months, but has added
another twenty years to the life of the
building.
We are pleased to welcome to our midst
Miss Gladys Nelson. Miss Nelson has
just been appointed to a clerkship in our
office, and it will not be long before Gladys
will be talking in terms of cubic feet and
various other trade terms like an old
veteran. This additional help does away
with the necessity of calling on the Oak-
land Business Office for help during the
rush period, and really means the addition
of one clerk in the Oakland Office for two
weeks and one in our office for the same
period.
25
December, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
CORPORATION YARD
Marilla M. Williams
Correspondent
THROUGH the columns of Bubbles
the Yard wishes to extend, to all a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year.
Joe Bianchini. one of our old "stand-
bys" in the Yard, has purchased a farm in
Manteca. Here's
wishing you good
luck, Joe, and don't
forget us if you
raise anything good
to eat or !* ? !* ?
William Aichbee,
just a little re-
minder to let you
know I'm no older
than I look.
Poor old Billy
Schlenker has
flopped.. but the
worst of it is, he
hasn't met the girl.
Bill has made two
deliveries to a certain company and has
found that the only one he could ever love
is employed by this Conrpany. We might
suggest that Bill could write to a local
paper that has an "Advice to the Lovelorn
Column" and get his problem solved.
Philip Lancaster recently left us to
take a position on a liner running between
the United States and China. We hope
Phil will like his new work.
Lou Farrell has been wearing a big
smile the last few weeks. We'll never tell
why, though.
J. Sutherland Stevens has been suffer-
ing with a stiff neck the last few days.
Just see what those windy days did.
"Pop" Wilkins is still working hard on
his new meter record. "Pop" has a hard
time getting all the "dope" he wants, but
he says he'll have a first-class record in
spite of anyone.
"Shorty" Hunter and his crew are busy
getting Berryman Reservoir in first-class
condition.
Harry Agnew, night garageman, is kept
pretty busy lately feeding the "Lizzies"
and "Henrys." Harry says they surely
have some appetites.
J. Griffin, warehouseman, has been tak-
ing check of his stock these last few weeks,
so when January 1st comes, his worries
will be few.
J. Zimmerman has informed us that he
is down to "one" now. Look out, Jack,
there's safety in numbers, you know.
Pat Shally tells us that his kiddies have
been somewhat under the weather, but they
are on the upward climb again.
Frank Pretti bought himself a little
"Chevy" roadster. Frank says they're
"some little boat."
A. Quilici and G. Perrone have proven
to be first-class laborers. Keep up your
good work, boys.
Tim Suber is back on the job again.
Tim spent a few weeks home with a
skinned shin. Watch your step next time,
Tim.
"Honey" Jasper has become a first-class
auto painter. Joe says those spraying
machines are the only thing.
Dick Holroyd is always on the job.
Dick says it keeps him jumping to install
all of the new services.
H. Hart, garage foreman, and his auto
repair crew, are breaking all records by
keeping all of the machines in service.
Howard has a night and day crew busy
so that there will be no unnecessary tieups.
Joe Amaral is chief operator of the sand
blast. Joe keeps all of our meters looking
like new.
Pete Paulson, blacksmith's helper, is
always on the job. Pete came in with a
sledge the other day to remove our gas
heater for us, but we told him he'd better
wait until the cold weather was over.
P. Cornachia has a great fondness for
Adeline Street. What's the attraction,
Pete ?
P. Horan has been enjoying the night
air lately. "Paddy" has been busy making
connections since we took over the Union
Water Company.
Paul Havens says he's just as fond of
the ladies as ever. He says it takes him
to vamp the vamps.
Frank Pretti, foreman of the Turn-off
Department, is very proud of his men, and
wants to thank them for the hearty support
they have given him in his work.
26
December, 1921
BUBBLES"
East Bav Water Co.
Lou Farrell is starting a rogues' gallery.
Louie says he's going to charge a penny a
peek, and the proceeds will be donated to
the "Society for Starving Cats." Lou
says, "Please come early to avoid the
rush."
Fred Brownell is working in West Oak-
land again with his old friends.
Sol Hyman is there when it comes to
doing what the good book said — "Get the
Money."
Jimmie Nelson is designing some new
shelves and bins for the meter shop.
Jimmie says he's going to have the best
meter shop on the Coast before he's
through.
Frank Cressy, of the Turn-off Depart-
ment, is having a fine time these days try-
ing to find meters in back yards.
F. C. Kitchen says that it does not
matter to him where the meters are, but
he is there when it comes to finding them.
J. Mofffct has become a first-class chauf-
feur. He says he can cross Fortieth Street
now without sending his wife ahead to flag
him across.
A short time ago the Company gave us
an educational trip to the new San Pablo
Dam project. We were conducted to the
important parts of the properties, where
the engineering features were ably ex-
plained by Mr. Hawley and Mr. Rein-
hardt. General Manager Wilhelm then
addressed us, explaining matters in detail,
after which he invited us all to a barbecue
which had been spread in a shady glen on
a hillside overlooking the lake. There is
no doubt that each and every one of us
had an enjoyable and instructive day, and
that we all greatly appreciate the interest
the Company takes in keeping us informed
of its activities and aims, particularly the
agreeable manner in which it is done.
Seen at the Barbecue — The Race
WHEN HE FELL, THE CAMERA WAS AROl'XD HIS NECK
— and continued on next page.
27
THE ARTIST'S IDEA OF OUR TRIP
TO SAN PABLO DAM AND THE BARBECUE
HAD R LITTLE" EXCURSION
ALL THEIR OWM flTTHEHEW
FILTER PLHPHT IM JOHNS HEW
WHE£L6flRRoW"SiX'
OUT THE(LlO,HT TEH) UJ
But Vouhrd to cover up
With m i s auto blanket
Before you qothh/ —
"to emdup r
Perfect dr-/-
LATHER
WHERE SERVED
Tor. HuMQRy
CROWD
OPENED THE CHOjEANOLET
THESE two BIRDS OUT RC,r\iri
Lets Hope. theV shows little,
rction this time.
December, 1921
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
BERKELEY DISTRICT
W. H. Blais
Correspondent
FIRE CHIEF SIDNEY ROSE and
Jay Stevens, chief of the Fire Preven-
tion Bureau of the National Board of
Fire Underwriters, returned to Berkeley
October 30th, after a trip to the four
corners of the country. During their
absence they at-
tended the Pacific
Coast Fire Chiefs'
Convention in Vic-
toria, B. C, the
Kansas Fire Chiefs'
Association at Kan-
sas City, and the
International Con-
vention of Fire
Chiefs at Atlanta.
After having a fine
time, they were glad
to get back to
Berkeley.
To help those
who are out of em-
ployment in this city, the Council has
established a Bureau for the Jobless.
Through this bureau the merchants and
manufacturers are requested to make
known their labor wants.
Plans are being drawn for the erection
of a students' hotel to cost $1,800,000.00
This hotel in appearance will resemble the
St. Francis in San Francisco. The plans
call for a building with more than 1,000
rooms. It probably will be more than
eleven stories in height. Among the special
features will be a swimming pool, recrea-
tion rooms and parlors. The dining room
will be conducted cafeteria style.
Building activity is still apparent. Dur-
ing the month of November we received
applications for ninety-three new services,
which is very unusual for this time of the
year. If business keeps on increasing like
this, and we hope it does, it will not be
long before we will be crying for larger
quarters.
To avoid the congested district on the
eastern side of Shattuck Avenue, between
Bancroft and Allston Ways, the City
Council has ordered this street widened
seven feet. For the same reason the city
fathers have ordered the City Engineer
to go ahead with plans for the widening
of Center Street, between Shattuck Ave-
nue and Grove Street, by taking ten feet
from the property on the north side of the
street.
On November 2nd, the Berkeley Rotary
Club held their regular Wednesday
luncheon at the San Pablo Filter Plant.
Mr. Curtis Wright, chairman of the manu-
facturers' committee, presided at the meet-
ing. At the speakers' table were seated
Mr. C. S. Lamb, President, and Mr. H. S.
Howard, Secretary of the Club, together
with our President, Mr. Edwin O. Edger-
ton, and Vice-President and General Man-
ager, Mr. George H. Wilhelm.
Following the luncheon the Rotarians
were given the opportunity of seeing the
filter plant in operation. The members of
the club were shown about the plant by
Mr. Fred J. Klaus and Mr. H. Reinhardt,
Assistant Chief Engineers, and Mr. Paul
E. Magerstadt, Design Engineer.
Berkeley has lost one of her best known
and highly esteemed citizens in the death
of Mr. A. W. Naylor, who was the founder
and organizer of the Commercial Bank,
now the First National Bank and Berkeley
Bank of Savings and Trust Company. He
was a resident of this city for over thirty
years. At the time of his death, Mr.
Naylor was over eighty years of age.
On Saturday morning, December 3rd,
this city felt highly honored in receiving
a visit from the commanding general of
the allied armies in France during the late
war, Marshal Ferdinand Foch. Although
his visit was rather early, the line of march
was thronged with thousands who came to
see and greet our guest.
We have just been told that the police
department is to purchase a sphygmoano-
meter, in other words, a lying machine. So
folks, if you are not all little George
Washingtons, be careful and give this city
a wide berth.
30
December, 1921
BUBBLES"
East Bav Water Co.
RICHMOND DISTRICT
C. E. Clark
Correspondent
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERY-
BODY, and may your new year be
joyous and happy!
Nineteen hundred twenty-one will soon
pass away and 1922 will arrive full of
new resolutions, happiness and prospects
for the fortune
which has been
dodging us for so
long.
The prosperity
that is going to
abound in 1922
must have already
been foretold, for
there is more build-
ing going on in our
city - — Richmond —
judging from the
new service applica-
tions^ than any pre-
vious time in old
1921. Foreman
Pleich says he thought, "now that Winter
had arrived, he would be able to take life
a little easier," but on the contrary, it is
worse now than all the balance of the
year put together.
Foreman Wilson has been very busy this
past week prospecting for meters and
water mains in the Bay View Section, for-
merly served by the Union Water Com-
pany. He says he will soon have them all
tagged and labeled.
On November 13th we again enjoyed
the hospitality of our Company in a sight-
seeing trip through the filter plant and
over the Wild Cat and San Pablo Creek
water sheds to the San Pablo Dam.
While standing on the top of the big dam
we listened to some very instructive talks
from our General Manager, George Wil-
helm, and Resident Engineer George Haw-
ley. They told us of the time back in
1916 when that big storage reservoir was
first thought of and of all the big engineer-
ing problems that had to be overcome
before it was really started, and of. how
that beginning has gradually grown until,
as we stood on top of that big pile of
earth, we were hundreds of feet above the
original starting point. About 12:30 we
were treated to an old-fashioned barbecue
j ust above the dam. Oh, boy ! We had
everything that was good to eat and drink,
and after we had eaten until it seemed we
could eat no more, our good old friend,
Drinkwater, brought on the candy. After
we had enjoyed the meal, strolling parties
were organized and the balance of the
afternoon was spent in wandering over the
hills, enjoying the sunshine and scenery.
About 4 :30 all went home, having spent a
very enjoyable day, and received instruc-
tions from listening to the various lectures
and actual observation that Avill be applied
and be very useful in our every day work.
We express our appreciation and thanks
to Vice-President and General Manager
George Wilhelm, host for our East Bay
Water Company.
While at the fiilter plant, Assistant
Chief Engineer Harry Reinhardt told us
of the beginning of that institution and of
its perfect operation now at its comple-
tion; of the three-mile tunnel through the
Berkeley Hills, through which the water
flows from the San Pablo Dam to the
filter plant, where it passes through the
several stages of treatment and filtration,
and is finally passed on into the big dis-
tributing mains and to the public.
If the public could have accompanied
us on that tour and heard the lectures by
General Manager Wilhelm and Engineers
Reinhardt and Hawley, some of the asser-
tions which we hear daily relative to the
impurity of the water we serve, would
never be made. Let each of us appoint
ourselves a committee of one, that as we
meet the consumers daily in our various
offices, to instruct, as far as it be in our
power so to do, the operation of our water
system, and when we can, to accompany
the doubting public on a tour of inspection
of our entire water system, and I feel con-
fident that by the time 1923 rolls around
the public will have a very favorable
opinion of our Company and the water
they serve, and many of our troubles will
be over, insofar as convincing the public
that we serve good, pure water.
31
sjt ahouiihi
If any little word of ours
Can make one life the brighter,
If any little song oi ours
Can make one heart the lighter,
God help us speak that little word,
And take our bit of singing,
And drop it in some lonely vale,
And set the echoes ringing.
x
Vol. V • No. 3
FEBRUARY
19 2 2
CONTROL TOWER • OUTLET TUNNEL
SAN PABLO LAKE
February, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
OAKLAND'S MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM
AN ASSET TO THE CITY
THE report just given out by the Manager of our Civic Auditorium is indeed
gratifying, and especially so to those who have worked so long to make it a paying-
proposition. Since July 1st the running expenses of this big structure have been
exceeded by its earnings.
x\side from this fact, it is our building, and we are very proud of it. Last month
twenty-nine free and sixty-five paid events were held in the building. The free enter-
tainments are for charity
and conventions. The unem-
ployment fund has received
great help from the use of
the Auditorium.
An average of ten con-
ventions (National and
State) are held in the build-
ing each year. While there
cannot be an estimate of the
number of outsiders which
these bring to Oakland
yearly, yet we know it is up
into the tens of thousands.
The Oakland Municipal
Auditorium is one of the
Interior Views of the Arena
The roof is of glass, flooding
the building with light
finest buildings of its kind in
the United States.
The big building seats
10,000 in the arena, while
the theater, which is sepa-
rated, seats 1,981. Big road
attractions are billed for the
Auditorium in the near
future.
The floor is removable,
and a three-ring circus gave
a complete performance
under its roof. In addition to the arena and theater, there is an art gallery, several
small convention halls, banquet hall, seven small committee rooms, a complete press
room, telegraph and telephone room. These rooms are all reached by wide corridors
and runways, there being practically no stairways in the building.
The theater stage is so constructed that it can be used either for productions in
the theater or arena, being provided with large steel asbestos curtains which can be
dropped at either side of the stage, thus shutting one portion completely off from the
other. It is fully equipped in the most up-to-date manner with scenery and properties.
It is the intention of the management to use any surplus that is carried over each
year in the reduction of taxes.
2
February, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
February, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
THE PUBLIC AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION
By Gale S. Strout, C. E.
RECENTLY each succeeding year
has seen the relation of the public
and the public service corporations
become closer and grow more harmonious.
The reason for this is simple and can be
laid entirely to the better understanding of
both parties. The educating factor is
largely and almost wholly that clearing-
house of information on public utilities,
the State Railroad Commission.
The Establishment of the California
State Railroad Commission in 1912
In 1912, when the Railroad Commission,
with its present powers, sprang into ex-
istence, it was hailed by the public as
a magic club to beat the public service
corporations into insensibility and thereby
reap revenge for what the misinformed
public had thought they had long suf-
fered. The Commission was deluged with
complaints of all kinds. Poor service was
charged, and exorbitant rates were prob-
ably the most popular; altogether the com-
plaints were various, both formal and in-
formal, from petty discrimination to the
gravest of charges. That the public was
honest in its beliefs there can be no doubt.
But the sincerity of its charges makes
the charges none the less in error. For-
tunately the Railroad Commission had at
its service a staff of expert accountants,
engineers, and statisticians with authority
to expert corporations' books, evaluate the
system and study costs of operation. The
results of the Commission findings were
enlightening although frequently discon-
certing. Many complaints asking for rate
reductions were found to be without basis
and unjust and often led to a rate increase
instead of the asked for decrease. The
surprises were many. Unfounded com-
plaints became fewer and a much better
ixnderstanding came to take the place of
public prejudice.
But the public was not to be blamed
entirely for its misunderstanding. It had
had in the past no real source of infor-
mation. In fact there was no channel
through which information could be had.
The public is a busy body of individuals
with thousands of different lines of occu-
pations. Each individual we might say
is a specialist, made so by a life of ap-
plication to one line of endeavor. It is
therefore evident that if it has taken the
individual a lifetime to become profici-
ent in his own line that he cannot be ex-
pected to be proficient in the complex
problem of the utility. His only error
lay, and the point upon which he can
be justly blamed, is voicing as correct an
unfounded opinion that had been formed
on propaganda received through channels
entirely false and misleading.
The Public Utility Corporation and
Public Opinion
The channels of misinformation prior
to 1912 were many, perhaps the most
prolific were the office-seeking politicians
promising reduced rates on commodities
of the public service corporations through
their verbal and press campaigns. Some
then might question the extent to which
such seed of propaganda would fall on
fertile soil and take root. To realize the
extent to which such propaganda would be
effective it is necessary to analyze the mind
of the average individual living in the city
and see from what source his impression
relative to the commodity delivered by the
service corporation has come.
To see the individual clearly in his im-
pressionable years we must trace him in
a majority of instances to some point
away from the city. We must not lose
sight of the fact that the present city
dweller has not always lived here but
comes from all points of the compass. In
his previous home we may find that he
was served, for example, with water from
a pump, or a windmill tank, or a tank
supplied by a spring. In these cases to
him, water is one of the gifts of nature
on which there is no charge. It belongs
in the same class as the air he breathes.
Unconsciously he has grown to believe
that water is free to all and costs nothing.
This may be his attitude even though the
water from his own windmill tank cost
February, 1922
"BUBBLES"
East Bav Water Co.
him more than he may now be paying.
Many individuals are now using, even in
the cities, an inferior water of insufficient
pressure at a cost greater than they could
purchase it from the service corporation.
This of course is true when the interest
of investment on well, tank tower, tank
house, tank, pumping equipment, together
with dejareciation and labor and expense
of operation and maintenance are taken
into consideration. But many individuals
are oblivious of overhead costs and believe
that if they can only secure the original
equipment that the after cost is nothing.
Under such conditions the mind is nat-
urally susceptible. The individual cited
is not an exception but is in the majority,
and therefore the propaganda fell upon
fertile soil.
The Aim of the Public Service
Corporation Service
It is only when the public realizes that
the public service corporation in reality
does not charge for the commodity it
delivers, but for the cost of securing and
delivering it. that it will have a proper
basic understanding of the question in-
volved. With this understanding on the
part of the public, and the service cor-
poration charging justly for its service,
there will be no barrier between them.
The duty of the service corporation is
therefore to serve and serve well. Just
where this service should end is to be
determined by the public. Any service
that the public wants and will adequately
pay for should be rendered, and will be
rendered if the utility does its duty. But
the public must pay honestly for this
service demanded. The public service
corporation sells but one article — that is
SERVICE. It has nothing else to sell,
and therefore it is as anxious to sell this in
large quantities as any other vendor is of
his wares. It would be hard to imagine a
distributor of automobiles desiring to
limit volume of his sales. So it is with the
service corporation. It is selling service,
and hopes to sell it in enormous quantities,
but the service must be adequately paid
for. The public cannot ask and expect to
receive a pure filtered water at the same
price that it would pay for a foul water
suitable only for irrigation. It must pay
the just service charge of filtration. In
the same manner every added service ren-
dered must be adequately paid for.
Sanitary Requirements of Public
Water Supplies
There was a time when the public ser-
vice corporation could deliver water of
questionable potability, but that day has
passed. The State through its Board of
Health closely supervises this feature, de-
manding certain precautionary measures
as to collection and treatment. The util-
ity does not object, but welcomes such
measures, but it must look to the public
for adequate remuneration for the added
cost. The question then arises as to when
and where the increase in service rendered
will stop. This will cease only when the
added service rendered fails to have a
direct utilitarian, economic value in excess
of the charge for the service; or the service
rendered fails to render a luxury that the
public desire sufficiently to pay for. For a
long time the water companies have re-
moved suspended material and bacteria
from the water, but very few attempts
have been made to remove from the city
supplies the obnoxious mineral salts. It
lias been known in some scientific circles
for years that if the average city would
remove the hardening salts from its supply
that the value to the city would be in-
creased many times the actual cost of this
added service.
What Soft Water Means to the
Community
The value of a soft water to a city is
hard to appraise. As an example it has
been demonstrated that the laundering of
linens and clothes in a water free from
hardening salts reduces the wear and de-
preciation in the garment from one to two-
thirds of what it is in hard water. In
other words a garment laundered continu-
ally in soft water will be increased in life
from one-half to twice what the life of
the same garment would otherwise be
when washed in hard water. Similarly
the life of hot water piping would be
lengthened. No pipes could scale and
clog, because soft water carries no scale-
forming salts. This would mean rapid
heating of water in heaters with minimum
February, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
quantity of fuel, and no more burnt-out hot
water coils. The use of soap would be
reduced to one-third its present consump-
tion, and its kindred allies, the cleansing
compounds, would be eliminated and soon
forgotten. Even the kerosene can, which
is such a friendly helper to the tired
housekeeper, would be banished to the
garage as a lone assistant to the automobile
groom. With freedom from baffling,
annoying soap curds the housework would
be proportionately lightened. Manufac-
turing concerns would be freed from boiler
scale worries, with its attendant costs of
boiler cleaning, fuel waste, heavy boiler
depreciation and the hazard of accident.
It is a well-known fact that certain manu-
facturing industries seek locations where
soft water can be obtained. An example
of this is the textile industries which have
sought the soft water of New England and
Southern States of the Eastern Coast.
The real value of soft water is unknown
to the general public but is well known
to certain small commercial groups. If
a public service corporation were today
to go to the expense of giving the added
service of soft water it would probably
find that it had a thankless task. The
public, being as yet unaware of the value
of the added service, would resent the
contemplated increase in service charge.
Without adequate remuneration the service
company cannot long render the service.
It must be paid in full.
In the past few years private companies
have rapidly installed machines to remove
the hardening salts from the water at their
plants. This is rapidly extending to all
lines of business. Hotel companies, realiz-
ing the comforts and needs of their guests,
have been among the first to make the
installations. This is true of the steam
boiler plants in all lines of industry, laun-
dries, textile mills, and private homes.
It is well known that the service can be
rendered more cheaply through single cen-
tralized stations, but is the public yet
ready to pay the price ? We do not know,
but indications are that the public is just
awakening to the possibilities offered by
such services.
To what extent is a municipality justi-
fied in making efforts to give industries
water that is especially suitable for their
particular needs ? Imagine a city with rail
and shipping facilities and practically
every other natural advantage, but handi-
capped in its ability to furnish one lone
prerequisite demanded by the manufac-
turer. In such a case it would be worth
while to secure the necessary prerequisite,
if securing the prerequisite cost less than
the advantage obtained by the added in-
dustry. With one city bidding against
another in its offer of attractive induce-
ments, it stands to reason that the one with
the most natural advantages and offering
the most will eventually win.
The Duty of the Public Service
Corporation
The public service corporation has one
mission to fulfill. That mission is to prop-
erly render the service demanded by the
public, for which the public is willing to
pay. When it has done this the public is
well served. If it has done less there is
just cause for complaint. Likewise the
public must not demand service for which
it is unwilling to pay.
The service corporation's one duty is to
serve. To give service is its only excuse
for existence. To give real service is its
pleasure, and there is no limit to which
such a corporation will go if assured of
remuneration. Service is its one salable
commodity. Therefore the demand for
service cannot be too great. The greater
the demand, the bigger the volume of busi-
ness and the better the service offered.
STENOGRAPHERS OF SEVERAL
KINDS
Number One makes some marks in her
book while you dictate, and after a long,
long wait, lays before you a typewritten
sheet on which you may possibly recognize
a few of your utterances. She never inter-
rupts you, and never asks a question,
guesses at what you said, and gives you — •
a basis for editorial work.
Number Two may get every word just
as you said it, although she may interrupt
you many times while you are dictating.
Her typewritten notes are accurate, errors
and all. She doesn't presume to change
anything, no matter how you may have
offended against "good usage." Her
February, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
spelling, capitalization, punctuation, etc.,
are usually bad, very bad.
Number Three is capable — when she
thinks about it. She can take notes as fast
as you can talk, and type them while she
is thinking about the dance last night, or
what she will wear to the party next week.
The letter may contain some fearful and
wonderful things when it comes to you,
things that she wouldn't have put in had
she "used her head."
Number Four is capable and thoughtful.
She tries to get your thought as well as
your language, and if the language doesn't
express clearly and correctly what she
knows you wish to say, she changes the
language, or, if there is any uncertainty in
her mind, she asks you about it before she
types it. When your letter comes back you
are delighted at the intelligence shown in
its preparation, and pleased to have such
a letter go out over your name. If you are
of the right make-up, you will be patient
with her occasional changes of some of
your pet expressions, provided such
changes are made knowingly and thought-
fully. You will not discourage such a
stenographer from using her head.
Number Five soon results if Number
Four is encouraged. You do not have to
dictate every word to Number Five. You
simply go over your letter with her and
give her the basic ideas for each answer.
She makes a few hen tracks on the margin
of each letter and composes answers which
you are pleased to sign.
Number Six doesn't require much of
your attention. You may hand her a num-
ber of letters, nearly all you have to
answer, in fact, and she will answer them,
perhaps better than you would. You can
trust her to sign your name; she will not
use this privilege unless she is sure. Guard
this kind carefully; she's likely to get a
better job — or get married. At any rate,
she's more than a stenographer. — Trained
Men.
A certain Summer resort advertises :
"Persons in search of solitude are con-
stantly nocking here from all parts of the
United States." Must be a quiet place,
100 per cent jazzless, and no place for us
1922 models.
DUFUNKUS
One of the Professors at the University
phoned the other day and — read on:
Ding-a-ling — "Berkeley Office of the
Water Company speaking."
"Oh, yes — yes, the Water Company.
Say, where can I get a 'Dufunkus'?"
"Get a what? New service? Yes, we
can take care of you."
"Thanks. Send up a few Dufunkuses."
"Who do you think you are talking to?"
"This is the Water Company, isn't it?"
"Yes. Just a moment, please, the Dis-
trict Manager will speak to you."
"Hello! What is it, please? This is
the Manager's office."
"Well, sorry to trouble the whole office
force, but you see, this is the 'Olyoligical-
lybotanichii' Department of the Univer-
sity, and we thought that after the recent
heavy rains you might be able to fish out
of your reservoirs a couple of nice, fat,
healthy 'Dufunkuses,' which we would be
glad to get for experimental purposes."
Not being aware that this Company
maintained a zoo. at the different reser-
voirs, the Manager was loath to show his
ignorance in the matter of butterflies or
insects, whatever it might be.
"Yes, yes, of course, this Company is
glad to co-operate with the consumer."
"We don't want to consume it — we want
to feed it and watch it grow and — ■"
Now roe are right at home. "Feed it,
watch it grow." He wants to invest. AH,
STOCK! That's what he wants.
"Ahem — why — certainly, this Company
will be glad to have someone call and
explain its securities to you; also bring a
'specimen' of the certificate issued — "
"Oh, thank you so much ! If you bring
the specimens with you it will save us
sending after them; only be careful not to
smother them — even if they can live in
water or on land."
Ye holy catfish, the man has gone mad.
"Just a minute, Professor. Let's get
this straight. What do you think I think
you are talking about?"
"Why, my dear Mr. Manager, 'Du-
funkus'— dog fish — water spaniel — water
dogs — you know — !!!???"
Curtain — Ring for Clarence and show
the gentleman up to see Mr. Daniels, the
official "pound" master.
February, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Her name was Anne, and she was very
shy, so she was called Cheyenne.
Now that there is to be an open door in
the Orient, we will see the Sun Set Yet.
Germany is crying for "raw" material.
Why doesn't she take a look around Holly-
wood ?
Those who try to sell goods "bottled in
bond" sooner or later become bottled in
bondage.
The more refined term is embrace, but in
these modern times we call it "hug," and
let it go at that.
If Will Hays kicks an "1" out of Holly-
wood, there will still be one left, which will
then make it holy.
Some fellows don't begin their vacations
on Fridays because — well, because pay-
day is on Saturdays.
Every time a bachelor reads about a
wife shooting her husband he realizes what
he, perhaps, escaped.
Plow would you like to work in the
cooing and Billing Department, among the
doves 'n'everything ?
Somebody's saying it with flowers in the
Business Office. They're expensive this
time of the year, too.
Now that the garment workers have
ended their strike, our men need not be so
careful of their pants.
The coal miners cannot create a coal
shortage with creating a cold shortage of
cash for their families.
Some people die of "flu" and others die
of fright. If you think you have the "flu,"
the thing to do is fight.
When you drive your car in cold weather
be sure you use its muffler, otherwise it
will cough its cylinder head off.
Candied asparagus is the latest piece of
sweetmeat to be placed upon the market,
which is likely to make Artie choke.
Don't go around asking people for dry
toast as though you were a poached egg
and looking for something to lie on.
Scientists claim that the North Pole has
moved sixty degrees. "Doc" Cook must
have moved it so that Peary would miss it.
Giving your employer all the money that
falls out of the till is not honesty — it's
real downright generousness on your part.
Silence is golden and speech is silver,
'tis said, but some of the talk we have
heard around here sounds like lead — heavy
stuff.
There are about as many oil stations
now as there were saloons, but they are
filling auto tanks instead of one-man
tanks.
From the way things look now, it will be
a most enthusiastic optimist, with the keen-
est eyesight, who can see the light in wines
and beer.
Conceit is only mental in the operation,
and it always remains so. It is a mild
form of insanity — harmless, except to the
possessor.
Marilla, if you notice a car at the curb
resembling a Fierce-Harrow, on Wednes-
day, the 29th, come out and look in — it
will be "me."
Columbus was born in the year 1446,
and he went to sea at the age of 14. Some
of our young people start out on a voyage
before that.
According to one Gibbons, "accident is
the parent of disorder," which accounts for
the numerous "berths" in our Police De-
partment lately.
8
February, 1922
BUBBLE S'
East Bay Water Co.
John Reginald Hunter is working on a
machine which will produce refillable
cream puffs, and expects to make lots of
dough out of it.
The new Peace Dollars won't stack, we
are told. The only people who will worry
about this are those who never had more
than one at one time.
We now have a four-cylinder treaty and
a naval holiday for ten years, with nothing
for our sailors to do but watch — watch the
other three cylinders.
A prominent prohibition advocate in an
Eastern city, named Brewer, is often heard
to make light whines over the high cost of
the National Camels.
The old-fashioned horse thief, who was
hanged for his crimes, has been replaced
by the auto bandit, who is paroled after
serving half his sentence.
The people in Zion City are being taught
that the earth is "flat," which is entirely
wrong; at least the Western hemisphere is
fairly prosperous, considering.
"Be sure you are right, then go ahead,"
is a good motto, but don't spend so much
time making sure you are right that you
never get around to go ahead.
Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, was born in
69 B. C. This is some little time ago, but
the women were using lipsticks then as our
flappers are using them today.
We'll have to explain again, that the
reason the ferry boats on the Bay are the
same at both ends, is that the captain is
always too busy to turn around.
"The horn of plenty always seems to
turn its small end to a lot of us," says the
fellow who always stood at the end where
he could blow and make a noise.
Professor Harmonica of Berkeley,
famous for his performances on the jews-
harp, will shortly undergo an operation
for gallstones in his saxophone.
Keep your eyes on the traffic cop, follow
the white lines on the crossings when you
want to cross the street, but don't cross
the cop — better be safe than sorry.
Looking like sixteen from skirt hem
down, and like sixty from the collar up,
seems to be the way of the world now, in
this third year of prohibition.
Now that the war is over and the Navy
bean has been mustered out of the Marines,
it's time to throw that puree of hay and
cornstalks into the ash can.
Have you heard of the new Adam's
Eden which is being financed by a lot of
old birds who are determined that not even
a lady-bug shall intrude upon them?
Talk around the City Hall indicates that
the Civil Service Commission will soon
hold competitive examinations for the posi-
tion of Superintendent of the Jobless.
According to news items, asparagus will
have nothing on the automobile plants —
two more will be sprouting in Alameda
County shortly. Here's a tip for you.
Someone found a wishbone in Sacra-
mento recently. The next time Mrs. For-
key goes to that city to eat turkey — well,
just wait till we meet her face to face.
Did you ever sit in a game and draw
a "king full on queens?" You can't do
it in Europe today. There's hardly that
many face cards in the deck over there.
At a time when so many men are seek-
ing work, the man who has work to do
should see to it that he does it so well that
no one can question his right to hold his
job.
It doesn't take an athletic girl to run
up and down a menu four or five times
without losing her appetite. Any little,
skinny girl with a pointed chin can do the
trick.
A preacher asked every man in his con-
gregation who had troubles on his mind
to stand up. Every man stood up but one,
and he was paralyzed from the Avaist
down.
Skinny little girls, don't you worry about
the future. We have seen middle age
transform a lot of little ninety-pounders
into something that resembled a bale of
cotton.
9
February, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
Issued by
EAST BAY WATER COMPANY
Edited by the Employees
and devoted to their interest and benefit.
Address communications to Bubbles, care of
East Bay Water Company
512 Sixteenth Street
Oakland California
fe fc fc
George H. Wilhelm Editor-in-Chief
Charles E. Thatcher Managing Editor
Helex P. Armstrong... .Asst. Managing Editor
Johx R. Hcxter Business Manager
Writers on Technical Matters
F. J. Klaus Asst. Chief Engineer
H. Reixhardt Asst. Chief Engineer
P. E. Magerstadt Designing Engineer
Paul I. Daniels Sanitary Engineer
Geo. Hawlet Res. Engr. San Pablo Unit
W. R. Curtis' Engineering Department
Correspondents
Oakland District J. P. Fiererlixg
Berkeley District .Harry B. Kjtowies
Alameda District G. A. McKean
Richmond District C. E. Clark
Corporation Yard Marii.la M. Williams
Vol. V FEBRUARY. 1922 No. 3
WORK
WORK — the foundation stone on
which is built the courage, strength
and ability that has carried all great
leaders to their pinnacles of success and
achievement.
Work — the center of Divine gravity,
from which radiates all joy. goodness,
intelligence and °-reatness.
Work — hard and continuous, is the
mental and physical exercise of our
powers.
The unused muscles of human anatomy
will soon become paralyzed, while the
mind, without a definite and worthy task.
is but rich soil for seeds of evil that
rapidly develop into weeds of petty mean-
ness.
"In all labor there is profit/' but many
a man holds the same position that he
started with, because, through moral cow-
ardice and narrow-mindedness, he was
afraid to teach someone else to hold down
his job. consequently, when the job higher
up was open, he didn't get it; they had no
one to take his place.
This is an opportune time, while the
world is undergoing such universal change,
to lay aside religious hatred and race
prejudices, personal grudges and narrow-
mindedness in general.
Work — the restorer of the weak and
indolent human body.
Perform your work a little better; culti-
vate a pleasing personality; sow seeds of
kindness and good cheer; render the best
service possible.
Luck does the rest !
DAD
He may wear a last year's straw hat ; his
fingernails may need manicuring; his vest
may hang a little loose, and his pants may
bag at the knees ; his face may show signs
of a second days' growth, and the tin
dinner bucket he carries may be full of
dents and doughnuts ; but don't you call
him "the old man." He's your father.
For years and years he has been rustling
around to get things together. Never once
has he failed to do the right thing by you.
He thinks you are the greatest boy on
earth, bar none, even though you plaster
your hair back, wear smart clothes, smoke
cigarettes, and fail to bring home a cent.
He is the man who won the love and life
partnership of the greatest woman on
earth, your mother.
He is "some" man, and not "the old
man." If you win as good a wife as he
did. you will have to go some, boy. — The
Silent Partner.
Across oceans and across
time, the hovering shadow
of Abraham Lincoln lingers
over the councils of nations,
uplifting their ideals and
influencing the destinies of
the world.
10
February, 1922
BUBBLE S
East Bay Water Co.
INDOOR SPORTS
With so many breadwinners out of work,
our Christmas fund was exhausted early
in the year, and on Saturday, February
25th, the Good Cheer Club gave a danee
for the benefit of the unemployed.
There have been dances and dances, but
it will be a long time before there will be
another dance like the last. With every
committee doing its utmost to make the
affair a success, and every employee will-
ing to contribute, it is small wonder that
such an entertainment was offered.
Several wonderful cakes were donated
by the wives of some of our employees, one
of them selling for $4.99. That was a
good price, but the man said it was worth
it, and he would get married himself if he
could find someone to make a cake like it.
The generous amount of food supplied
by all the girls for the "eats" was appreci-
ated, and while everyone came supplied
with plenty of loose change, they were not
stung very hard, with the exception of
Messrs. Wilhelm, Magerstadt and Eng-
vick; but them there raffles do take the
coin right out of your pocket. However,
they said they got their money's worth.
How many cups are there in ten gallons
of punch? Only the chief dispenser
knows. She merely guaranteed that it was
good.
The outside offices, as well as the Yard
employees, bought plenty of tickets and
cleaned up the liquid refreshments, which
added to the fund.
The decorations were such that our
guests would never surmise that the ball-
room ever did duty as a busy office. The
dance music was of a type to be expected
only from professionals.
It was one big, happy family, and the
hilarity was not increased by the punch,
as it was without a stick.
The net return from our little party,
after paying all expenses, was $185, and
the various committees are entitled to
much praise and sincere appreciation for
their untiring efforts in making this affair
a financial success, and credit is due Miss
Reimers, who was the chairman, and had
charge of all arrangements. It takes some
executive ability to engineer a deal of this
kind, and she is to be congratulated.
NOT BY K. C. B.
THERE WAS a bunch of girls
* * *
WHO HAD much sympathy
* * *
FOR THE unemployed.
* * *
THEY ALSO enjoyed a good time.
* * *
WHENEVER they wanted to dance,
* * #
THEY USED their Good Cheer Club
* * *
AS AN excuse.
* * *
THERE WAS also a
* * *
BUNCH of good fellows—
* * *
GEORGE, Jack, Charley,
* * *
PAUL and the rest —
* * *
WHO ALSO sympathized with the girls
* * *
AND LENT their labor, gave their money
* * *
AND HELPED the good work along.
THEY danced, they raffled,
* * *
SOLD candy, too.
THE MORAL of this is plain.
* * *
IT IS uplifting to do
* * *
GOOD DEEDS for others,
* * *
AND IT IS soul-satisfying to give to
* * *
THOSE WHO are in need.
* * *
BUT IT IS much more easy to do things
* * *
AND GIVE up your time and money
* * *
IF YOU mix fun with your charity.
* * *
FUN AND charity
* * *
MAKE A pleasant mixture.
* * *
WE THANK YOU.
11
February, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
"BUBBLES" from OUR
CORRESPONDENTS
OAKLAND • BERKELEY
ALAMEDA- RICHMOND
CORPORATION YARD
GENERAL OFFICES — Mr. George
Hunter has been as busy as seven
bird dogs. He has built up quite a
large organization, and is making altera-
tions and additions at the filter plant;
bracing the Berryman roof; also putting
additions on the
caretaker's house at
San Leandro; build-
ing weirs on San
Pablo and Wild Cat
creeks ; painting the
structures at Alva-
rado. etc. ; building
a transformer pit at
the Claremont pump
station, and a thou-
sand other things.
The boys in the
Engineering De-
partment have been
busy rearranging J- P- Fieberling
and indexing all the Correspondent
maps and drawings of the Union Water
Company so they will co-ordinate with our
records.
Mr. Ira Ogden has left the Engineering
Department to accept a position as care-
taker of San Pablo Dam. The Engineer-
ing Department regrets losing their old
associate, but they are glad to see him
succeed.
Mr. Jack Townsend has a new Dodge
touring car, and the boys say it rides easy.
Messrs. Hawley and Magerstadt expect
to engage in a study of the present San
Leandro Dam, with a view to raising the
dam, altering the spillway and constructing
a new modern filter plant at San Leandro.
If the alterations are undertaken, actual
construction will probably start early in
the Summer. These improvements will be
made for the purpose of increasing the
storage and raising the head in order to put
water into the Central Reservoir without
pumping through the Twenty-fourth Ave-
nue plant.
This Company is planning an expendi-
ture of $2,000,000 in extensions of its pipe
system in order to increase the capacity of
the distribution system. This work is
already well under way. Twenty thou-
sand feet of twenty-inch and thirty-inch
main is being fabricated, and actual pipe
laying will start about March 15th. The
employees of the Engineering Department
will have a busy season.
Plans are under way and construction
will start shortly on a new central reser-
voir pumping plant which will boost water
into the new Thirty-ninth Avenue Reser-
voir. Leslie Paul will devote his entire
time to work in connection with the en-
gineering construction of this station. The
station will be housed in a reinforced con-
crete structure.
Messrs. Klaus and Reinhardt have been
very busy on plans for the new pipe exten-
sions. This work will take a very large
part of their time during the year.
As a result of the recent heavy rains, we
have a considerable amount of water in
storage, and indications point that we will
fill our reservoirs at San Leandro to over-
flowing and have a very comfortable sur-
plus at San Pablo.
We are all back to earth after a strenu-
ous January. With a rate case, annual
meeting, inventory and dividends, as well
as extra work on account of the purchase
of Union Water Company, we were all
very busy, and are greatly relieved that the
extra work is over. We can do all this
extra work without confusion, because we
have a harmonious and satisfied internal
organization of employees.
Harry Reinhardt is now installed in his
new home in Avalon Court.
Mr. J. Larsen is a new addition to the
Engineering Department, and takes the
place made vacant by the resignation of
Bruce Lilley.
On December 8th our Purchasing Agent,
John R. Hunter, was unanimously elected
12
February, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Vice-President of the Purchasing Agents'
Association of Northern California, and we
know that he will work hard for the suc-
cess of the organization.
Have you noticed how Louis Moullet
never seems to hurry , but he gets there just
the same ?
Through co-operation and good will, all
the extra work scheduled for January was
completed on time.
Mr. Frank Daugherty has completed
some special work, and is now located in
San Francisco. He was a good scout even
though he did want everything in a rush.
Mr. E. A. Bowen has returned to Los
Angeles. We liked him, and are willing to
have him come again.
Mr. Urquhardt, representing Klink,
Bean & Company, certified public account-
ants, has completed the audit of the books
of this Company.
The pumping plants are having their
regular Winter overhauling, getting ready
for the Summer run.
Preparations are being made at Clare-
mont Reservoir to put in a new pump
house. The Pacific Gas & Electric Com-
pany has already completed its part of
the work, which consists of putting the
transformers under ground, which will im-
prove the general appearance of the plant.
We are glad to have Mr. Marks with us
again after suffering with a cold.
Miss Grace Blake has also returned to
the office, reporting a case of influenza.
Three times and out, so don't worry about
the next attack.
Mrs. Ward has completed some special
work with the Company. We miss her,
and hope she will enjoy her "loving cup."
A British representative at the arma-
ment conference recently judged the
United States as having one of the biggest
armies in the world, from the number of
Colonels he had met in Washington.
It is all right to keep the ring hidden
during office hours, Myrtle, but you can't
fool this bird, so you might just as well tell
the world.
An unusual number of packages are
arriving at the office on the 1st and 15th
of each month. Spring is "earning," and
the question is, Will we wear them long or
short? and the answer is short, decidedly.
Friend Loveland may be good at "Ag-
gers," but he isn't there when it comes to
an auction sale.
And Marilla let Verda beat her to it.
We always knew she was a sensible girl.
The first-floor girls will have to step
some to keep the pace of the second floor,
but from observations early in the morn-
ing, they may soon have some good reports
to make. Miss Ethel Farrell is another
one of our girls wearing a diamond ring.
Congratulations.
Mrs. Hudson, formerly Miss Florence
Fisher, paid us a visit recently. We were
all glad to see Florence. Her home is now
in Fresno.
Elsie likes to take in all the shows every
week.
Hazel quits promptly at 5 :30 every
night, as Paul doesn't like to wait. That's
right, Hazel, never keep him waiting.
A concrete highway will be constructed
on the San Pablo Valley County Highway
from Orinda Park to the San Pablo Dam.
Directors were elected and the report of
the President received at the annual meet-
ing of the Company on January 30th.
Frances Kerns has returned after fight-
ing a bad cold. We are glad to have her
back.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul I. Daniels have been
enjoying a rest at the hospital. We are
surprised at you, Paul, indeed we are. We
surely thought you were immune.
Messrs. Klaus and Hawley had a nice
time at home for a few days, but we are
glad to have them back on the job.
A man on the third floor remarked the
other day: "A wife is like an old shoe, and
you just take her for granted." But oh,
boy, how you do want her when she is
away and you are at home alone with
the "flu."
Engineers Harry Reinhardt, George
Hawley and Paul Magerstadt are prepar-
ing an itinerary covering an extended trip
for the purpose of visiting a number of
large cities, where they will study con-
struction methods and filter operation of
other water systems.
The copious rains that fell throughout
the State during December and January
13
February, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bav Water Co.
will go a long way towards insuring crops
and a sufficient supply of water for the
coming season.
Odorless onions are now grown success-
fully in Boise, Idaho. We hope odorless
garlic will be grown in Oakland for the
benefit of the Engineering and Steno-
graphic Departments.
BUSINESS OFFICE— This has been
a very strenuous early Spring. Most of us
have had a touch of the "flu" to keep us
busy, and, with the income tax epidemic,
which also comes each year at this time,
we poor mortals have plenty to remind us
of the frailty of our human construction.
The Company has had a great number of
employees away on sick leave, but those
who were here redoubled their efforts and
kept things running smoothly.
Miss Schuster has been helping out dur-
ing the emergency, and has proven to be
very capable in any of the work to which
she was assigned.
Ralph Boyd has been transferred to the
Berkeley District, and Paul Nunn has
taken his place in the Oakland Office.
Elmer Richie was taken from the night
force to fill the vacancv caused bv the
advancement of Nunn. All of these young
men have been in the employ of the Com-
pany for some time and merit their promo-
tion by strict application to their various
duties.
Miss Sparrow, who was formerly em-
ployed in this office, paid us a visit the
other day. Grace appeared in good spirits,
and says she is happy in her new position.
There has been considerable rain lately,
so naturally all of us who are employed by
the Company are happy and wearing a
smile, for we know that, no matter how
muddy and disagreeable it may be, the
steady fall of the little crystal drops is
filling the reservoirs and assuring the
people of the East Bay district an ade-
quate supply of good water during the dry
months.
Bobby Dolan is quite happy these days.
She has been living in a furnished apart-
ment, but decided that she wanted a place
of her own, so has furnished a little flat,
and now she and "Bud" are quite con-
tented.
February being a short month, Mr. Dut-
ton assisted in the Collection Department.
Mrs. Smith, formerly our cashier, came
in from the ranch the other day and paid
SAY MHM-
PLEASE CALL
'WATER COMPftNY
THEM TO RUSH OU"
DOG, MERT FOR
!OR A 5TRLTCHE
ME— OR I'M OF
RE.HOIN METE
For lif
RE.RDIMQ METERS INTHE BACKyflRDS OF COIS5UMER 5 IN SECTIOfS26
OF THE. BROADMOOR TRRCK- 5RM LLHtNDRO-15 OFTE.N trSTE-R —
RUPTED Qy SOME. PE.T HOUMD THRT RCTS LIKE- HEHR5N'T BEEN FE.D 7E.T
RND THEN HRVE THEOWNER PRN You LIKE THIS - RlM'T IT GRERT ?
14
February, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
us a fraternal visit. She seems perfectly
satisfied with the rural life, and if a person
can judge from appearances, we believe
that it agrees with her.
Abe Solomon's coin gatherers and Chas.
Fieberling's dial watchers have been a
busy bunch of fellows this past month.
They had to contend with sickness, a short
month and bad weather, but, realizing what
was before them, they mapped their course
so as to get through their difficulties nicely.
Frank Pretti and Ambrose Merrill
Drinkwater have located a real honest-to-
goodness Italian restaurant in the lower
part of the city, and have a weekly lunch-
eon there. We don't know why they keep
it such a mystery, but we could make a
good guess if given a chance. (Where 'tis,
Frank?)
The addition of the Union Water Com-
pany's plant has correspondingly increased
the activities of the Oakland District.
Naturally there has been a little confusion
with the consumers who formerly were
supplied by the Union, but, in most cases,
when a proper understanding was had, all
were satisfied and a better feeling created
among all concerned.
Mrs. Helen Jensen will leave us on
March 15th. We are sorry to have her
leave, but she is going to experiment on
keeping house and making a few biscuits,
etc. Here's hoping He won't get indiges-
tion.
The Mailing Department sent out over
40,000 bills during the past month. Some
record.
Estelle Lawrence is again handling the
shekels after being absent on account of
illness. As soon as Essie Nipper returned
from her enforced vacation Estelle thought
she would try it for awhile.
Miss Mellis is a new addition to our
force. Vacation schedules are about com-
pleted, which, coupled with absentees on
account of sickness, necessitate additional
help.
Clarence Entler, who always appears to
be available when we need an extra collec-
tor, joined the collection gang for a few
days this month to help out on account of
sickness and crowded time, due to a short
month with two holidays and the usual
Sundays.
CENTRAL BILLING BUREAU— The
big benefit dance is all the talk these days.
Joy was surely unconfined. Hazel Forkey,
our fashion plate, was there all dolled up
in her very best.
Miss Mulholland has surprised us by her
skill in operating the comptometer. She
is attending night school, and learning the
new work very rapidly.
Miss Mundell has had some trouble with
her eyes, but pluckily remained at her
desk, and we are glad to report that they
are much improved.
Mrs. Voigt has been confined to her
home for a month. Upon her return to her
desk the dentist tried to improve her looks.
There is a contest on between Miss
Brandt and Miss Rogers with regard to
being absent from work. Miss Rogers has
a wall convered with gold stars — two years
without a single day's absence. Miss
Rogers is also very fond of bananas.
Miss Brandt is devoting a considerable
part of her time to night school and burn-
ing the midnight oil.
We regret that Mrs. Beekman has been
confined to her home with influenza. Dur-
ing her absence Miss Cox took care of her
work.
Mrs. Harrington was absent a few days
with influenza, but returned to her desk
when she learned that a number of the
girls in her department were ill.
Elsie to Hazel, December 24th — Wasn't
that fine of the Company to give us our
checks in advance ?
Hazel — I'll say it was.
Same Girls, January 14th (noon) —
Wish we'd get our checks. "Didjaeat?"
"No, didju?"
Elsie — Isn't it awful, those pictures
being lost? I am sure they would have
been good, and besides, that is the first
snow we have seen in forty years !
The snow seemed to have a great attrac-
tion for Miss Davis, as she was not con-
tented with one trip to the hills. Who was
the officer with you, Annalean?
The snow cured Joe Larson's cold. It
must have seemed like good old Utah days.
Joe has been trying to work out a number
of puzzles since the acquisition of the
Union Water Company. Someone said she
was "between the devil and the deep sea."
We fully agree.
15
February, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
CORPORATION YARD
ANEW addition has been installed in
the blacksmith shop which will
accommodate two blacksmiths and
their helpers. The work has increased to
such an extent that "Pop" Anderson was
unable to keep on top. We now have in
our blacksmith shop
Walter Anderson,
foreman; H. Att-
field and P. Paul-
son, first assistants.
Douglas DeCew
was employed re-
cently as mechanic
in the garage. Doug-
las surely can turn
out the work in good
shape.
Tim Suber and his
able assistants in
the machine shop
have been busily en-
gaged in overhaul-
ing various pumps.
Marilla M. Williams
Correspondent
Leave it to Tim to
turn out the work speedily and in first-
class condition.
"Shorty" Hunter and his crew of men
have been busy of late putting the various
reservoirs in tip-top shape.
"Duke" Standiford has been indisposed
for more than a week. We hear that
"Duke" is recovering rapidly, and will be
back to work very soon.
Louis Lester Farrell is all smiles these
days. Cause: New Franklin car.
Walter Hunter is a new employee in the
Yard. Welcome, Walter.
E. Smith is our new nightwatchman,
replacing George Caya, who is working in
the Yard. Ed makes things look spic and
span in the office.
We regret to report the serious illness
of Mrs. George Caya, but hope for her
speedy recovery.
Emile Esola recently left the employ of
the Company to take a position with the
Bank of Italy. Success to you, Emile.
B. Sand is "Honey" Jasper's right-hand
man in the oil station. He has proven
himself very capable in handling this posi-
tion.
Meter Repairmen Jensen, Stevens, Mid-
dleton, Turner, and Terry have made a
record in meter repairs recently. Three
thousand two hundred and forty-eight
repairs for January.
Foreman Bill Johnson is busily engaged
in installing several thousand feet of six-
inch cast-iron pipe in the Thousand Oaks
district.
Foreman Charles Maleton has been en-
joying a vacation, accompanied by a bad
cold.
Jack Zimmerman wishes to notify any
of his friends who may have occasion to
write to him that hereafter his mail should
be addressed as "D. D. P. Zimmerman."
Sol Hyman recently left the service.
Paul Meriam is taking the place made
vacant by Sol.
No, Paul Havens is not in the second-
hand business, except that he will sell
three smelly pipes at reduced rates.
Jack Townsend got through the holidays
nicely. Only one damaged wheel.
Assistant Superintendent P. Horan en-
joyed a vacation over the holidays, and is
now ready for another year's work.
Fred Till, assistant to Chief Inspector
Williams, has been recently engaged in
making special inspections of some of the
large privately owned fire systems in Oak-
land and adjacent territory. We loaned
him our Mr. Middleton to aid him; also
offered tools and overalls, which were
refused.
Paul Meriam and J. Turner have been
substituting during the illness of some of
the regular meter readers.
Foreman Bill Hale is back on the job
after several weeks' illness, due to an
injured foot.
Foreman Thomas Griffin is reported as
improving after a serious operation at the
Providence Hospital.
All our guests reported having a lovely
time at our Christmas Eve Party here.
Besides our regulars, among those present
were Assistant Chief Engineer Klaus, Dis-
trict Manager Knowles, Sanitary Engineer
Daniels, Chief Clerk Westover and Super-
intendent of General Construction George
Hunter.
Nick Solari is back with us after a brief
sick spell.
16
February, 1922
"BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
Max Roschitisch has been confined to
his home with a serious illness the past
month. We are glad to report that Max is
out again and on the job.
John Honigsman is all smiles these days.
The Fageol truck has been thoroughly
overhauled and newly painted.
"Pop" Walter Anderson has returned
to work after an illness of several days.
"Honey" Jasper has a brand new heater
in the paint shop. This will enable him to
paint machines with the greatest of com-
fort.
"Shorty" Hunter and Jack Griffin have
rearranged the warehouse. This enables
Jack to keep his stock in a more systematic
order, and also makes our warehouse one of
the best and most complete of any on the
Pacific Coast.
Foreman B. Pedro is always wearing a
smile. Pedro lias sworn off "moonshine"
forever, and he says he never felt better
in his life.
William Miller has taken Emile Esola's
place at Roller No. 2. Miller is becoming
quite efficient, and we are sure that he will
prove thoroughly capable.
Yard Foreman Ed McKinney is the
same old Mac. He has the Yard in first-
class condition, and says he will challenge
any other yard foreman to show any
better.
"Honey" Jasper has been painting a
baby buggy these last few days. Oh, yes !
Didn't you know "Honey" is the proud
dad of a third baby boy ? We don't know
whether the new baby will be named
"Honey Joe, Jr.," or not.
A little bird has informed us that J.
Fracchia has taken "life's greatest step."
Congratulations, John, and we wish you
all the happiness and the best of luck
possible for the future.
What's this we hear about Pete Paulson
courting a widow? 'Sail right, Pete, it's
never too late to try.
Harry Agnew is the proud father of a
second baby boy. Congratulations, Harry.
Verda Williams has changed her name
since the last issue of Bubbles to Mrs.
Charles Lawrence McMeekin. We wish
you and Charles much happiness in the
years to come, Verda.
Bill Schlenker shakes a wicked heel, but
he surely gets lots of practice.
ALAMEDA DISTRICT
NOW that the cold weather is no
longer with us, the meter readers,
much to their delight, will have no
farther occasion to make notations in their
books of box frozen, can't raise cover, and
similar expressions of conditions caused by
Jack Frost. There
is no doubt but Jack
worked a little over-
time in making
weather the last few
weeks, but as he
staged a wonderful
snow storm as a fit-
ting climax to his
performance,
all feel amply re-
paid for any of the
little inconveniences
caused by his undue
sharpness.
Geo. A. McKean Mr. Andruss of
Correspondent t}le Land gales De-
partment announces that plans have been
prepared, and that everything is in readi-
ness to start work in the laying out of lots
on the Company's property at High Street.
Anyone desiring a home in our beautiful
Island City should get in touch with our
Mr. Andruss.
Alameda now boasts of one of the
neatest and prettiest little restaurant and
confectionery stores in the East Bay. Any
employee doubting the above facts need
only to drop into our office between the
hours of 12 and 1 p. m. and your humble
servant will be only too pleased to step
across the street and do the honors.
Wanted — Pipe Detective Williams to
locate lost main on Park Avenue. There
is no doubt this main is there, and is very
much alive, but where it is connected or
where it runs from this connection Joe
Paladini is unable to locate. This line is
part of a privately owned concern which
was acquired years ago by our Company,
and as pipe was laid in those days with
little regard for property lines, it is just
possible that this main takes a short cut
across lots. However, as Joe has gone as
far as possible with pick and shovel, he
now calls upon Mr. Williams, with his
scientific instruments, to solve this puzzle.
17
February, 1922
BUBBLE S"
East Bay Water Co.
BERKELEY DISTRICT
BERKELEY booming? No, just a
good, healthy, steady growth. Build-
ing permits for the first ten days in
January amounting to over $100,000
means sure prosperity, and this amount-
represents only cost of construction of
store buildings and
private dwellings.
Water service is
necessary for every
structure. Figure it
out yourself. Are
we growing, too ?
Say, Harry Bern-
hardt, just cast your
"oliver optics" on
this, my brand new,
latest up-to-date
photograph on this
page. Doesn't that
new "halo" make
you kinda envious ?
The industrial
Harry B. Kxowles
Correspondent
growth of Berkeley is climbing into the big
league class. Statistics quoted show over
$19,521,000.00 capitalization in industries.
Nearly 300 new services were added to
this Company's total in the taking over of
the George L. Friend system. This new
business is situated in one of Berkeley's
most beautiful residential districts. Numer-
ous new homes are now under erection,
many of which will greatly add to the
beauty of the locality by their artistic
architecture. This new service will be
right up to the minute with the larger
mains and additional pipe lines now being
installed throughout the district.
Gloom was sprinkled in this office for
over a week. Miss Florence Bryant was
kept home close to her fireside by a severe
cold. Thank goodness she's back on the
job, so say we all of us.
And by the way, though this office has
been pulled and twisted, shorn and shrunk
by illness among the gang — here's shout-
ing the news — the rest of the bunch
humped right into the harness and the
batting average of the efficiency of the
office was as usual — above par.
Ralph Boyd has fitted into his new job
just as if he were measured for it, which
means, he's a two-fisted work slinger.
We're strong for Ralph, and here's the
secret: He is strong for the Companv —
that's LOYALTY.
February, 1922
"BUBBLE S
East Bay Water Co.
RICHMOND DISTRICT
A FEW weeks ago those of us who went
through the water famine of 1918
were scratching our heads and won-
dering if 1922 would be a repetition of
that year. However, old Jupiter Pluvius
has seen fit to turn loose his storage tanks
and give us plenty
of water so that we
may rest easy re-
garding our water
supply. San Pablo
Lake is slowly but
surely filling.
In the past twelve
months the Rich-
mond District has
had the honor of
taking into its fold
four of the small
utilities serving
water in this dis-
trict, the last being C. E. Clark
the Herbert F. Correspondent
Brown Water Company, which supplied
the district bounded by Costa Street on the
north, Twenty-sixth Street on the east,
Clinton Avenue on the south, and Thir-
teenth Street on the west, sixty-eight
services in all; a residential district which
is growing very rapidly. This district
fitted in very nicely with our general
system, being bounded on the west by our
twenty-four-inch main on Thirteenth
Street and on the east by our twelve-and-
a-half-inch main on Twenty-third Street.
Foreman Pleich says he does not mind
installing new services, but he thinks it
rather a "pesky" job dolling up old ones.
Those services taken over from the Contra
Costa Water Company, the Richmond
Heights Land Company, the Union Water
Company and the Herbert F. Brown Com-
pany have all been put in our standard
form, which is according to the reports
from Charles Fieberling and his competent
force, "first class."
Proctor & Gamble has a crew of laborers
with a bucket dredger building levees
around their holdings in South Richmond
preparatory to receiving the mud for the
dredging of Richmond's Inner Harbor
work, which work is soon to start.
The Republic Steel Package Company
has about completed its plant in North
Richmond, and will soon be turning out the
product of its factory, which, we under-
stand, is the only one of its kind in the
West.
During all of the stormy weather for
the past two months, building has been
very brisk, more new services having been
put in than during any one of the Summer
months last year. Richmond promises to
be a humdinger in building in 1922. The
new Postoffice, at the corner of Sixth and
Nevin Streets, is nearing completion, and
Postmaster Long expects to be installed
and ready for business by April 1st. The
new T. & D. Theater, on Maedonald Ave-
nue, between Eighth and Ninth Streets, is
taking on form very rapidly. Manager
Dan Riordan informs us that now is not
too soon to purchase seats for the opening
night, which will be about May 1st.
Foreman George Pleich and his brother,
John, have each purchased half-acre lots
on South Thirtieth and South Thirty-first
Streets, and are planning for new build-
ings. This property was recently taken
over from the Union Water Company by
our Company. George and John are to be
congratulated upon their selection for
homesites. George says he now has room
enough to raise vegetables for the whole
Water Company family.
Since our last issue Manager Blais of
the Berkeley Office has resigned. We of
the Richmond District herein wish to
express our appreciation of "Billy's" co-
operative spirit in our association with him
as Manager of the Berkeley Office. Mr.
Knowles, the new Manager, is well known
to us all, and we also wish to extend to
him our hearty welcome, and assure him
of our co-operation.
The smiling map of Lou Farrell bright-
ens our office quite regularly of late. More
power to you and your bunch, Lou. May
the good work go on. Richmond wants lots
of action, and you're the lad to put 'em
over.
Ye Scribe enjoyed a pleasant trip to
Merced last week, where a Lions Club was
organized by the Richmond Cubs. A good
time was had.
19
WORD of encouragement is
worth more than a long fault-
finding harangue. Cf A sign of
appreciation stimulates better
and greater successful effort.
A warm handclasp will
evoke the spirit of cooperation,
while a frown or a sneer will
freeze the heart or make it bit-
ter and resentful Let your
countenance radiate cheer, good
will and faith, and your world
will then resound with joy and
service.
The School News of New Jersey
Vol. V
APRIL, 1922
No. 4
LOOKING DOWN BROADWAY FROM THE UP-TOWN DISTRICT
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
April, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
OAKLAND'S UP-TOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT
BUILDING ACTIVITY
By George E. Shelden, Secretary-Manager Up-Town Association
Secretary-Manager
Up-Town Association
IN the heart of the Pacific Coast, on the
Bay of San Francisco, within a span
of but a few years, a city has arisen
which, in the consideration of all the
country, must rank side by side with the
great centers of the East, where industry
developments have been
going on since the found-
ing of the United States.
Those who know the
City of OAKLAND— her
assets, her institutions,
her history and her men,
know it is but inevi-
table that OAKLAND
shall go forward. It was
no surprise, therefore,
when the last census
showed that OAKLAND
had advanced to the
thirty-first largest me-
tropolis in the nation;
however, the significance
of this growth is prob-
ably not realized by
many of our own citizens.
While OAKLAND has been growing into
a great industrial center, what has she been
doing with her commercial advancement?
The Up-Town Association was organized
over two years ago to ascertain why OAK-
LAND was not keeping pace with her in-
dustrial development. And Avhat was the re-
sult? Is the commercial side of our life
keeping abreast with the industrial side?
A careful survey of the district south of
Fourteenth Street shows that every square
foot of property was improved with suit-
able buildings or with old buildings en-
tirely out of keeping with a city the size of
OAKLAND; while a survey of the district
north of Fourteenth Street shows many
valuable properties without improvement,
as well as several old buildings on valua-
ble corners, neither of which were bringing
in revenue to meet taxes.
The Up-Town Association chose the dis-
trict north of Fourteenth Street as being
the most desirable for the expansion of the
retail district and are playing their part
in planning this retail development, to meet
the ever growing factory expansion.
The records for the year 1921 show that
for every factory built, a commercial build-
ing has been erected and we will more
than duplicate the record this year.
Considerable credit must here be given
to the men of foresight in the East Bay
Water Company who decided on the Six-
teenth Street location for their new build-
ing. Situated as it is in the very heart of
OAKLAND, it has been the prominent fac-
tor in locating the new Pacific Gas and
Electric Company Building two blocks
away.
When the Pacific Gas and Electric Build-
ing is completed, all public utility build-
ings will be located within four blocks of
each other with the East Bay Water Com-
pany Building in the center.
Some of the larger buildings are men-
tioned to show the commercial activity of
OAKLAND, and these can be compared
with the industrial growth, bearing in mind
that all the mentioned buildings have been
erected in the district north of Fourteenth
Street :
The Lem Williams Building, at 17th
Street and Telegraph Avenue, costing $50,-
000;
The California Peanut Company Build-
ing at 20th Street and San Pablo Avenue,
costing $90,000;
The Oakland Title and Insurance Build-
ing, at Fifteenth and Franklin Streets,
costing over $90,000;
The Wakefield Building, on Franklin
Street, costing over $70,000;
The Cross Garage Building, on Harrison
Street, costing over $50,000;
The addition to the Lloyd Garage Build-
ing, for the State Auto License Bureau,
costing over $35,000;
The Bangle Building, costing over $40,-
000;
The Geo. H. Roos Buildings, at Grand
Avenue and Broadway, costing over $100,-
000;
The Arnstein Building, at Webster and
Grand Avenue, costing over $45,000:
(Continued on page 6)
April, 1922
'BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
CLA Y STREET
KEY TO DIAGRAM AND PHOTOS OF BUILDINGS
1. Reich and Lievre Bldg., Broadway bet. 15th and 17th Streets
2. Pacific Gas and Electric Co., 17th and San Pablo Avenue
3. Konrad Gobel, 21st Street bet. Webster and Harrison
4. Arcadia Dance Hall, Franklin and 14th Streets
5. Dr. W. H. Wakefield Bldg., Franklin bet. 15th and 17th Streets
6. Packard Auto Building, 21st and Franklin Streets
7. Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Co., 15th and Franklin Streets
8. Chevrolet Auto Building, 21st and Franklin Streets
9. Deckleman Building, 17th and Telegraph Avenue
10. Thomas Day Building, Broadway, bet. 17th and 19th Streets
11. H. 0. Harrison Auto Bldg., Grand Avenue, bet. Webster and Harrison
12. Oakland Title Insurance and Guarantv Companv, 15th and Franklin Streets
13. Lem Williams — Millinery, 17th and Telegraph Avenue
14. Manheim and Mazor, 15th and Broadwav
A Tapscott Building — 1-story building for offices
B Examiner Building — Completed
C Nine-story Dentist Building — Now financed
D Columbia Outfitting Co. — Now under construction
E New Building F. F. Porter — Now under construction
F Tom Carney Building — Completed
G Harry A. Mitchell Building — Completed
H Roos Buildings — Completed
I MacLafferty Building — Completed
J Hobart Garage Building — Completed
K Haynes Auto Building — Now under construction
L Osborne Garage — Now under construction
M Weil Building — Completed
N George Bangle Building — Completed
0 Orpheum — To be constructed
P Fox Theatre — Now under construction
Q East Bay Market — Now under construction
R East Bay Water Company Building — Completed
S Graphic Arts Building — Completed
April, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
April, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
April, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
OAKLAND'S UPTOWN BUILDING
ACTIVITY
(Continued from page 2)
The Graphic Arts Building (Horwinski
Co.), on Webster Street, costing over
$65,000;
The Capwell Building, on Broadway near
Fifteenth Street, costing over $200,000;
The MacLafferty Building, on Sixteenth
Street near San Pablo Avenue, costing over
$30,000;
The Hobart Garage Building, on Hobart
Street near Broadway, costing over $100,-
000 and being the largest garage building
in the City of Oakland;
New Orpheum Theatre, on Broadway,
bet. 19th and 20th Streets, at a cost of over
$800,000, not including the land value;
The Fox Theatre, on Broadway, bet. 17th
and 19th Sts., at a cost of over $1,000,000;
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company,
at Seventeenth Street and San Pablo Ave-
nue, costing over $350,000;
The Down-Town Garage Building, re-
modeled by owner, costing over $35,000;
The Elks' Club Building, on their pres-
ent site on Fourteenth Street, costing over
$1,000,000;
The Deckleman Building at 17th and
Telegraph, costing over $50,000, now be-
ing erected.
These buildings, erected during the past
fifteen months, total over $4,160,000, and,
with other buildings, such as apartment
houses and store buildings, bring the total
to $4,360,000.
The building of a new up-to-date market
at 19th and Telegraph, costing over $125,-
000, is rapidly nearing completion. This
building will be the largest of its kind in
the world and will be one of the most at-
tractive structures in the city, located as it
is on the main artery to Berkeley and but
one short block from San Pablo Avenue
and Broadway.
The latest building to be announced is
one of 17 stories and will be built at the
northwest corner of 16th and Telegraph
Avenue which joins the East Bay Water
Company Building on the east. Mr. Frank
H. Proctor, the owner, chose this location
as being the very heart of OAKLAND.
OAKLAND has at last hit her stride and
before the year 1922 passes we shall all
be proud that we have played our part in
the building of a beautiful city.
WHITE COAL
The story is told of Eli Grubb from
Punkin Holler, how he sold his river bot-
tom land that he had been paying taxes on
for over sixty years. The story goes some-
thing like this:
"Sold the bottom farm," he gasped, "By
gum I never raised a crop on it since I
took it up sixty years ago. But I got them
taxes all back now; city feller gave me
five dollars an acre for the dumned stuff.
I feel like I could be took up for swindlin'
or a reg'lar 'green goods man.' I asked
the rich fool what he was going to raise
on that there land and what do you think
he said? Tm going to raise water and
mine white coal.'
"Well," I said, "I never heard tell of
no coal, black or white, being dug out of
them granite rocks, but as fur water, you've
got a good start right now. He went on
with his dum nonsense with something like
this :
'Little drops of water
On the grains of sand,
Make a mighty difference
In the price of land.' "
Eli's mirth and the ridicule that goes
with the lack of vision and dreams which
may come true, applies to us right here in
Oakland and the Eastbay district. If we
could only see — if we could only stop
long enough to figure out the future from
the happenings of the past — if we could
have patience to "dig white coal" in all
of our pursuits. "Little things make the
wheels go round." If it is water: if it is
land or building or mercantile pursuits;
if it is stocks and bonds, "every man to
his trade," but it is here — here just as
much as it was when our forefathers
crossed the plains with the ox teams.
We have men of vision today; men who
plant trees; men who make "two minutes
grow where one grew before." Men who
have seen and are capitalizing upon their
vision in buildings, water, power, manu-
facturing, mercantile pursuits, etc.
Let's all of us stop and dream a little;
try and cultivate vision and then work like
the dickens digging "white coal" from the
"boggy lands" which have been a waste un-
til now and only waiting for the hand of
vision to be developed into blessings for
all mankind.
April, 1922
'BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
SANITATION— FOOD AND WATER
Paul I. Daniels, Sanitary Engineer, East Bay Water Company
(Continued from page 9, Vol. IV, No. 4)
A THOROUGHLY equipped and most
efficiently operated laboratory is an
essential unit of an organization
supplying water or food for domestic uses,
for it is in the laboratory that the final
test is made to determine the safety of
these commodities
for human consump-
tion. Sanitary in-
spection of sources
of production, prop-
er handling in clean
surroundings and
every possible pre-
caution to prevent
pollution may be
used. Still as an ad-
ditional protection
to the ultimate con-
sumer, the labora-
tory should be re-
lied upon to deter-
i .i . Paul I. Daniels
mine whether or not
such commodities are in fact safe.
As previously stated, from 200 to 250
samples of this Company's water are made
monthly in the laboratory to determine :
(1) The number of bacteria present in
each sample;
(2) Whether or not there are gas-pro-
ducing organisms present, and if so, is the
gas produced by any of the bacillus colon
group or by non-pathogenic organisms? If
the results show the presence of B. Coli
in large numbers, the water is considered
to have been polluted and of bad quality,
for the reason that the group of organisms
known as the bacillus colon group are nat-
ural inhabitants of the human and animal
intestine, and though some of the group
may be and are considered to be harmless,
there are others in this family, particu-
larly typhoid bacillus, which are decidedly
dangerous to take into the human system.
When it is deemed necessary to fully
determine the presence of the typhoid germ
in water, as may happen in case of an epi-
demic of typhoid fever, a much more ex-
tensive procedure must be employed re-
quiring a longer time than for the simple
B. Coli test.
There are other pathogenic bacteria
which are sometimes found in public water
supplies, and whenever such conditions are
suspected, examinations are made for the
purpose of identification and classification
of the various organisms which may be
present. This often becomes necessary when
water is obtained from sources known to
be open to pollution, such as supplies ob-
tained from lakes or rivers receiving the
sewage or industrial wastes from adjacent
cities or towns, such waters may be made
safe insofar as the disease producing quali-
ties are concerned by three means or lines
of defense: storage, filtration and steriliza-
tion, but still the water is of an objection-
able nature, and there yet remains the ever
present possibility that one or all of the
lines of defense may fail for a short time,
thereby exposing the consumer to the
dangers lurking in polluted waters.
The cities supplied by the East Bay
Water Company are fortunate in having at
their disposal natural facilities for the col-
lection and storage of a safe domestic
water supply. The many miles of water-
shed owned and controlled by this Com-
pany constitutes a natural catchment area,
which, together with the large storage
facilities, class this utility along with the
best as regards the high quality of water
produced and served the consumer.
What constitutes a water of the highest
quality is somewhat of a difficult question
to decide. Some maintain that a soft water
(i. e. a water entirely free from mineral
salts) is the best for drinking purposes,
while others maintain as strongly that the
mineral salts naturally found in most water
is quite necessary for the health of the in-
dividual. One may as well try to establish
a standard bread; should it be corn, rye or
wheat and white or brown. Perhaps each
person should settle the question to their
own liking and rest assured that whatever
variety one decides on, it will not be likely
to cause injury to the individual providing
both the water and food are free from
pathogenic organisms or their products.
(To be continued)
7
April, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Proposals should not be received over
the phone. Better meet the mad lover face
to face and settle the matter with a ring
on the finger rather than a ring on the
wire.
Conclusions are drawn from real facts.
and "deductions" are made from conclu-
sions, Avhich are usually final. This is a
good thing for a fellow to know who values
his job.
Here's a picture of freedom: Imagine
yourself sleeping out in the open, under the
big, blue dome, upon a stack of new-mown
hav. totallv surrounded with moonshine.
Oh. boy!
A Southern California flyer starts suit
for fifty thousand dollars' heart balm,
which prompts us to remark that if you
men would hold your wives don't "go up
in the air."
Speaking of horseradish, etc.. and say-
ing it with flowers, someone on the second
floor is saying it with walnuts. Some li'l
ol' shell game, but we'll "crack it" in the
next issue.
One of our independent young women
says she will never marry; that she never
had a beau; that sooner than mend socks
for the rest of her life she would rather
have Nunn.
There's no chance for a perfect "42" or
"48" or "52" becoming anything like a
"36" after the skin has been stretched that
far. This is terrible news, but we might as
well break it.
Auto-intoxication is "dognosed" by a
veterinarian as being brought on by gaso-
line feet, superinduced by a faulty spark
plug, causing the heart to shimmy to the
four points of the compass. To get relief,
use more footpower for locomotion.
Don't think that every man who looks
at you, girls, is trying to flirt with you.
He may be a Secret Service agent, and then
again, he might be studying you simply
for comparison.
The man who ignores the small things
in his haste to grasp the large is due for
the bumps. Don't think yourself too big
to do some of the little things. It will pay
you in a big way.
In the Garden of Eden Adam slept, while
into his arms a chicken crept. A voice said
to Adam, "This is Eve," and Adam
answered: "I've got you Steve." And that's
how we happened.
Every day the newspapers are filled with
accounts of "nice new crimes," which, to-
gether with the movies, is giving us an
education not yet in the curriculum of our
foremost universities.
Notice that L. L.' Farrell, our Superin-
tendent, holds his name together with two
l's on each end. He's the boy who can
supply two l's for that other word when
the present ones burn off.
Chickens in Petaluma are trained to
scratch their number on each egg they lay.
In a recent egg-laying contest a chicksn
was caught in the act of cheating. Even
chickens will play a fowl game.
When some men are in the act of putting
away their soup, the noise they make
sounds like pulling a rubber boot out of
the mud. A "silencer" spoon is now on
the market to prevent this discord.
The buyer goes to gay Paree, the styles
in women's clothes to see, and with our
own compare 'em. And as the model
'round him flits, in backless gowns replete
with slits, he says, "I know they will not
sell at home, because they look like — well,
they simply will not wear 'em."
8
April, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Child asks its grandma, "When was the
Age of Innocence?" And grandma says:
"The Age of Innocence was 27 when I
was a girl, but now it's about the 12th
year." Gee, but they're learning fast.
A lobster is an invertebrate animal, be-
longing to the crustacean group. Found in
great numbers about many European
shores, the board walk at Atlantic City, and
occasionally on Broadway, in Oakland.
A Coroner's jury at Pottsville decided
that a recent train wreck was caused by the
contributory negligence of the engineer,
who was afflicted with locomotive ataxia —
a medical term describing a buggy brain.
The South Sea Islander is to be envied.
He can eat his breakfast without having to
read about the Soviets, divorce scandals,
murders, bank robberies and political
grafters — and the Tanalac advertisements.
A girl with a pair of natural rosy cheeks
and a couple of dimples can get nearly
anything she wants; and a girl with rouged
cheeks, even though she has a couple of
pimples, can get any "old thing" she wants.
"Too refined to get married," is what
Josephine's mother said at the club last
week, in answer to a question regarding
Josie's future. Time will tell. Josie will
wander into a crowd some day, and there
she will be "crushed."
According to vital statistics published in
the news columns, it seems that vitalities
are running in true form about as follows:
A little miss — a little kiss — a little matri-
mony— a little cuss — a little fuss — a little
alimony.
One of the boys at the Corporation Yard
says a rattlesnake sunk its fangs into the
tire of one of the "Lizzies," and that the
air rushed into the snake's body to such an
extent that it was swelled up so it couldn't
rattle. Holy smoke!
Girls, take notice. Properly dressed
women will wear their skirts not higher
than ten inches from the sidewalk this
Summer. It is "kneedless" to remark, how-
ever, that there will be a few who will
insist on showing Nature's legacy.
Hello, McKean of the Alameda Office!
It's been several months now since you
announced the appointment of Gladys Nel-
son to a clerkship ; and you also stated that
she would soon be talking in terms of cubic
feet, etc. How are her square feet bv this
time? Can she talk plainly with them?
Here's an epitaph that appears on a
headstone in one of our cemeteries: "Be-
neath this stone my wife doth lie: she's
now at rest, and so am I." To which we
would add: The man who carved this
epitaph, though living, lies — because there
is not rest on earth. One does not rest
until he dies.
W hen, in the course of human events, it
becomes necessary for one people to dis-
solve the prohibitional bonds which have
connected them with another, a decent re-
spect to the opinions of mankind requires
that they should declare the causes which
compel the dissolution, and the same are
hereby so declared. They are alcoholic.
Automobiles are becoming more numer-
ous every day. One takes a chance crossing
the down-town streets. It is better to be safe
than sorry. Pedestrians should not try to
cross against traffic and dodge in between
cars, and men, if they must stare at women
while crossing the street, had better look
them in the eye instead of — well," let's try
to prevent accidents.
Mr. Reinhardt told the Rotarians that
powdered aluminum is very sparingly used
to eliminate by precipitation all the micro-
boparalysisness in the aqua pura of a San
Pabloco nature, and the "Rotes" bowed as
though they understood exactly that he was
not referring to the Volstead Act. Reinie
surely talks in plain English.
If Shakespeare could only come back
and rewrite the Volstead Act, there might
be some prospect of "A Midsummer Night's
Dream" of the "Merry Wives of Windsor"
with "Two Gentlemen of Verona." This
might be "Much Ado About Nothing," but
it would give the "Merchant of Venice" an
opportunity to grab off a few simoleons
from "Romeo and Juliet" when they step-
ped from their gas chariot to a convenient
wayside inn.
April, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Issued by
EAST BAY WATER COMPANY
Edited by the Employees
and devoted to their interest and benefit.
Address communications to Bubbles, care of
East Bay Water Company
512 Sixteenth Street
Oakland California
George H. Wilhelm Editor-in-Chief
Charles E. Thatcher Managing Editor
Helen P. Armstrong... .Asst. Managing Editor
John R. Hunter Business Manager
Writers on Technical Matters
F. J. Klaus Asst. Chief Engineer
H. Reinhardt Asst. Chief Engineer
P. E. Magerstadt Designing Engineer
Paul I. Daniels Sanitary Engineer
Geo. Hawley Res. Engr. San Pablo Unit
W. R. Curtin Engineering Department
Correspondents
Oakland District J. P. Fieberling
Berkeley District Harry B. Knowi.es
Alameda District G. A. McKean
Richmond District C. E. Clark
Corporation Yard Marilla M. Williams
Vol. V. APRIL, 1922
No. 4
A MISUSED WORD
IT has lost its virility through associa-
tion with the wrong sort of people.
The word is Optimism. Any grinning
numbskull may pass for an optimist. The
original force of the word must be re-
tained — we must redeem it by making it
mean something big, noble, brave and help-
ful— we must lift it into dignity and worth.
What we do and are is qualified by our
mental attitude.
An Optimist is one who not only sees
the bright side but cheerfully gets busy
helping God make the day brighter. He
sees the Great Creator at work and lends
himself and his best talents as a co-worker
in the vineyard.
Bring the meaning close to our indi-
vidual lives. What we need most of all is
to keep life fresh and our work full of
zest — never allowing it to "go stale."
There is a self-acquired art of enthusing
oneself, that is, sell your job to yourself
over and over again — divide yourself, then
let the active side of yourself put forth
all of its attractions. The horizon of the
task widens, becomes more important and
you feel the zest creeping on. Then before
you are thoroughly aware of it, your love
for the work will burst full upon you and
you see it as a new and wonderful oppor-
tunity.
Optimism is just the joy that a person
can put in and take out of the hardest job,
the most trying situation. The measure of
a man is found in the amount of joy he
incorporates and extracts and this quality
is the superiority of life. Superior men are
those who can smile and work along when
everything seems "dead wrong." A king
can only be royal when he can become
bigger in spirit than his subject. You
can become a ruler when you put joyous
superiority into a trying situation.
WATER
WATER is a substance largely
liquid in composition and is
the habitat of germs, mole-
cules and fish. It is found to large
extent in rain, milk, securities and
bath tubs.
Its use in the past has been largely
exterior, being favored for the wash-
ing of clothes, faces and automobiles;
from now on, however, it will in
all probability become the favorite
National drink.
Water is the principal cause of
floods, navies and raincoats and is
largely responsible for the formation
of ice. In conjunction with soap,
water is regarded by many authori-
ties as being an excellent cure for
bolshevism; and sprinkler systems as
well as electric washing machines are
useless without it.
Water constitutes practically the
only obstacle to the construction of
a fine macadamized road between
New York and London, and further-
more, if it were not for water the
chances are there would be no prohi-
bition.
(Howard Schaefer, Secretary Oakland Rotary Club,
thinks this is good. So do toe. Editor.)
10
April, 1922
BUBBLES'
East Bay Water Co.
EMPLOYEES OF BERKELEY DISTRICT HOLD OUTING
Sunday, April 23, 1922, will long be re-
membered by the "Berkeley Bunch" as the
big day of their young lives, for this was
the day decided upon, after long sessions
of thought and chatter among the girls
( after office hours ) for the big eats, hike
and play at a picnic to be held on the
above date— AND WE HAD SOME TIME.
Everyone was "raring to go" bright and
early, so it was planned that after we all
went to church I "better the day, better the
deed"), ate a hearty breakfast (so to last
at least two hours) — "Boyd please note" —
we would leave at 8 o'clock. Of course we
have our suspicions as to how long some
of the party had been up when we were
ready to go, but everyone was on time and
away we went over the hills to a lovely
picnic spot the other side of the Com-
pany's watershed.
As we went along over the beauti-
ful hills and dipping into the wonderful
wooded canyons, we felt justly proud to
be part of an organization like the East
Bay Water Company, for everywhere our
eyes pictured for us the care and super-
vision of sanitary measures that protect
our watersheds from pollution and con-
tamination, for over those magnificent tree
covered hillsides, green with healthy glow
and the soft velvet slopes of the watershed
lands, the watchful eyes of the Company's
patrols vigilantly keep on the lookout for
the objectionable — yet the Company wants
the public to enjoy and appreciate these
great gifts of Nature that assist in bring-
ing to the community sweet, pure water.
When we arrived at the "beauty spot"
picked for our picnic and untangled our-
selves from the grub baskets, etc., the first
murmur of distress came from our two
lightweights, Boyd and Katich, to-wit —
"WHEN DO WE EAT?" Well, at that it
wasn't a bad suggestion for after unpack-
ing the many boxes of delicious sand-
wiches, cake, fruit, and lots more of every-
thing good to eat, and after heating up
our three-gallon thermos bottle I milk can I
full of "Yum-Yum" coffee we all fell to,
and ate heartily. Far be it from the scribe
to state some of his opinions regarding the
appetites of our worthy confreres — but
The Bunch Eating Lunch
11
April, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
after seeing some of the punishment given
to that grub — the only thing for the scribe
to do is to start in training for the next
bout.
We usually can enjoy a nice siesta after
a hearty meal, especially out in the big
playground of Nature — but who could
snooze with that crowd? We all answer —
"No one." So, a game of ball was started
and lasted for a couple of hours, and it
certainly was surprising to note the talent
displayed by some of the "gang." As a ball
player Higgins is a good runner and can
do 100 yards in zero, but a feather bed is
necessary to stop her at the finish — nuff
said. Meriam swatted the ball so far Clarky
had a nice snooze before the ball could be
returned. Every time Hooper found a soft
spot to cuddle up in, she informed the
bunch, "her foot hurt" — what can you do
— we didn't have a doctor along so we had
to believe her. Bryant insisted on throwing
the ball for a record distance, regardless
of locality, so after her supreme effort of
tossing the sphere into a hole in the face
Caught Rushing the Can
Resting After a Hike
of a great mountain of rock some 100 feet
more or less from the ground, it was up
to Knowles to expose his bald head to the
blistering rays of the sun, while rescuing
said ball.
Southpaw Stoddard can swat the ball
with both eyes shut and his back to the
pitcher and as a sidewheel twirler, he is a
good table finisher. When heat prostration
and lack of wind left the ball diamond
strewn with fatigued bodies, immediately
upon the announcement that the ice cream
freezer was uncorked, a miracle happened,
thusly — two quarts of ice cream, together
with two large layer cakes disappeared in
short order into the cavernous depths of
nine happy but tired folks, who were ready
for the homeward jaunt.
The day was ideal, .the ride beautiful
and educational, the grub delicious, and
the gang happy.
All were feeling in their hearts the
staunch spirit of loyalty toward the Com-
pany. It did us all good to see the play
side of our fellow employees away from
the routine work of the office. All voted to
put forth a more liberal effort to co-op-
erate with the individual in the office, each
working in that spirit of harmony, making
for "efficiency" — and with that, we feel
happy in knowing that "Service" is only
another way to spell "efficiency" — as the
consumer sees it.
12
April, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
"BUBBLES" from OUR
CORRESPONDENTS
OAKLAND • BERKELEY
ALAMEDA- RICHMOND
CORPORATION YARD
OAKLAND DISTRICT
GENERAL OFFICES — A surveying
party piloted by Art Green is now
in the field making surveys for the
enlargement of San Leandro Lake.
Oakland is growing so rapidly that it is
taxing the ability of the members of the
Service Department.
Mr. Blote is aver-
aging about 25
new taps per day,
while in the Turn-on
and Off Department,
Miss Pollard and
her force handled
1552 turn-ons, and
1362 turn-offs for
the month of April.
Included in this
number were 402
phone calls. In one
day the men under
Superintendent of J. P. Fieberling
Construction made Correspondent
144 openings in the pavements for the
tapping of water mains. At the present
time we have the largest force of workmen
in the Service Department that we have
ever had in the history of the Company.
Active construction work is now under
way on the East 29th Street and Claremont
booster plants.
Plans have been completed for the erec-
tion at San Pablo Filter plant of a bunga-
low for the use of the Superintendent ; also
for a keeper's cottage at San Pablo Lake.
Mr. George Hunter has completed the
installation of a tank to serve the Pine-
haven tract, and is also installing a 150,-
000-gallon tank at Sequoyah Country Club.
A 16-inch pipe from the Summit Reser-
voir is being rushed to completion to take
care of the higher districts in Berkeley.
A 20-inch pipe line from East 29th
Street pump station to 39th Avenue is
under construction.
Professor Wilfred F. Langelier, chemist
for the State Board of Health in Berkeley
and assistant professor of Sanitary Engi-
neering, has joined our organization as
chemist at the San Pablo Filter plant. We
welcome Professor Langelier on the staff
of this Company.
Gerald Jones, who was associated with
us for some time on the San Pablo project,
has again joined the engineering staff and
is making miscellaneous surveys.
Mr. John Parker is a new addition to
the force. He is assisting as chainman in
the Land Department.
Mr. F. B. Cressy has been promoted to
the position of draftsman on the San
Leandro project.
Mr. A. D. Murray is another new ar-
rival in the engineering department.
Miss Ethel Farrell is now known to her
many friends as Mrs. Harry Wilcox. They
were married in Sacramento on Wednes-
day, May 3. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox will
make their home in Oakland and we wish
them a bright and happy future.
Messrs. Wyman and Westover are still
burning the midnight oil and working 26
hours out of every 24.
The Railroad Commission of the State
of California has authorized the issue of
$3,000,000 Series B unifying and refund-
ing mortgage twenty-year 6% gold bonds
and to issue for the purpose of pledging
with the Mercantile Trust Company its first
mortgage 5y2% bonds in the amount of
$2,432,100. The new bond issue is for
refunding outstanding 6% five-year collat-
eral trust gold notes aggregating $1,250,-
000 and due August 1, 1923, to reim-
burse treasury for construction work and
to provide funds for the 1922 construction
program. Permission was also granted to
issue $504,000 par value of Class "A" 6%
Cumulative Preferred stock, the proceeds
to be used for treasury reimbursement and
projected additions and betterments.
Miss Frances Kerns is with us again
after battling with pneumonia for some
weeks. When the germs start to float they
never slight Frances.
13
April, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Mr. Herbert V. Green has been em-
ployed by this Company as a rodman.
Extra typists have been added to the
stenographic division on account of the in-
creased work which has been coming in
from all departments.
Up to date we have collected about $600
for the 1% drive for the benefit of Oak-
land's unemployed. All those who have not
as yet sent in their contribution are urged
to do so as we are anxious to make a full
report and turn over the money which we
now have on hand.
Messrs. Reinhardt, Hawley and Mager-
stadt recently returned from a month's in-
vestigation of some important water works
and engineering projects in the United
States.
While on the trip, which covered prac-
tically the whole of the United States, the
engineers gave special attention to modern
practice in filtration and general water
works construction. A large number of de-
velopments were investigated, the most im-
portant of which were the Elephant Butte
project on the Rio Grande River; the large
Muscle Shoals project on the Tennessee
River; the Croton Waterworks of New
York; the water and power development
of Niagara, and the water works of Wash-
ington, Baltimore, Cleveland, Columbus,
Cincinnati and Chicago.
A three-day stay was made at Dayton,
Ohio, to attend the convention of the
American Society of Civil Engineers, where
many valuable papers, prepared by the
foremost engineers in the United States
and Canada were read, dealing with flood
control problems in the United States, Can-
ada and the Orient. While at Dayton the
dams, spillways and revetment work of the
Miami Conservancy District, which now
protects Dayton and the Miami Valley
from a recurrence of the disastrous 1913
Dayton Flood, were visited and studied.
The trip was undertaken for the purpose
of obtaining information to aid in the
study now under way of a future water
supply for the Eastbay communities.
George H. Wilhelm, Vice-President and
Chief Engineer, has estimated that the
present close-in supply of water in the
East Bay will be sufficient for nine or ten
years only, and that actual construction
work on a distant source must be started
in 1926.
OAKLAND BUSINESS OFFICE— Miss
Lawrence has again returned to the office
after a prolonged case of sickness. She
seems quite happy to be back to her work
and her office associates are glad that she
is with them again.
Joe De Mello of the Collection Depart-
ment has been quite sick also but he is
on the job again and although not quite
recovered is rapidly improving.
Miss Whittier was transferred to the Or-
der Department to fill the vacancy caused
by the resignation of Mrs. Jensen. She has
been with the Company a long time and
was well qualified to take up the work as-
signed her. Miss Lyons was moved to the
former position of Miss Whittier and Miss
Schuster took up the work at the unpaid
files.
The Service Department has been very
active lately on account of the new build-
ings being erected in the Oakland District.
The work became so strenuous that it was
necessary to give our old stand-by, Martin
Blote, assistance, so Con Maloney is tem-
porarily helping him out.
Miss Nipper will be the first one to leave
the office for the nineteen twenty-two vaca-
tion period. She is going to visit her par-
ents at Grants Pass, Oregon, and is look-
ing forward to a happy time while in her
home town.
Mrs. Bobbie Dolan spent a few clays vis-
iting relatives in Fresno. She was there
during the annual Raisin celebration and
from all accounts she had a fine time.
Frank Pretti motored to Monterey County
for the opening of the fishing season. He
returned with the usual story but all we
could see that he got was a coat of sun
burn.
Meter reader Tuckett has joined the great
army of suburbanites. He has acquired a
piece of land near San Leandro and is
busily engaged in light farming.
Fritz Goetz puts in his spare time vocal-
izing. He is studiously cultivating his voice
and in the near future expects to outrival
Richard Jose or John McCormack.
14
April, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Mrs. Blomfield has appeared before sev-
eral of the business clubs lately and de-
livered her instructive lecture concerning
the political and social science of her
native land, New Zealand.
Abe Solomon, foreman of the Collection
Department, is on his vacation and during
his absence Thad Joy is looking after the
go-getters.
Mr. Thatcher held a round-table meet-
ing with the District Managers, head of the
Billing Department, Superintendent of
Construction, and meter readers. While
the session waxed warm at times, much
good was gotten out of the gathering and
certain matters were brought forth that
will serve to further promote the good
relations between the Company and the
general public.
Miss Mellis has become a full fledged
member of our family. She has proven
to be a reliable and dependable clerk
and does whatever task she is assigned
efficiently and with dispatch.
Swimming season is with us again and
a number of the girls have started a club.
They meet at the "Y" each week. Some
of them are real swimmers, others medi-
ocre, while one is just a splasher.
Carl Lester Anderson is substituting on
the collection force during the vacation
period. He seems to fit into the work
nicely and has had much experience in
other lines of work tramping over Oak-
land.
Edwin W. McMullen was with us for a
few days recently doing extra work on the
collection force. Mac said his feet were
not cut out for a collector so he had to
seek other fields of endeavor.
During the vacation period the meter
reader boys are being relieved by F. C.
Myall and Carl Lester Anderson.
It takes good sturdy chaps to do the
meter reading, and, by the way, this fellow
Myall has quite a record as a soldier.
During the great world war he went over
;'the top" several times. He is long on
discipline and knows how to obey orders.
We are going to be all dolled up soon.
Contract has been let to paint the walls
and ceilings on all the floors in the
building. The wall paint will be washable
and it will be much easier to keep clean.
Clarence Jenkins is doing extra police
duty now due to the presence of sneak
thieves in the basement. Recently one of
the boys had some valuables taken from
his car. It is hard to keep thieves out but
leave it to Clarence.
CENTRAL BILLING BUREAU-
Spring is here —
Vacation time,
From toil and trouble rest.
The mountain streams,
The seashore's sand
Dispel our weariness.
To the newlyweds, Ethel and Harry, we
want to extend our sincere congratulations.
Miss Mulholland is keeping a secret
these days. Perhaps in the next issue of
Bubbles it will be made known.
Miss Rogers may also surprise us, how-
ever, she believes in preparedness as she
is accumulating a library on cooking.
Will Miss Mundell spend her vacation
in Oroville this Summer? Hazel is very
conservative.
Mrs. Beekman is following up the char-
ity work started last December. She is our
representative in supplying the wants of
some unfortunates. She has charge of rais-
ing the 1% quota for the unemployed.
Mrs. Harrington believes that each mo-
ment is an investment for profit or loss in
the future. She window shops during her
noon hour to save time.
Mrs. Voigt has returned to her desk after
an extended illness. The influenza took a
good grip on her.
Mrs. Forkey has been out for some time
on account of illness and we are glad that
she is again at her post.
Miss Davis has been under the doctor's
care. She also has been suffering with in-
fluenza. Miss Cox substituted during her
absence.
Miss Brandt has filled in very nicely
during the absence of Mrs. Forkey and
Miss Davis. We were fortunate in having
her to help out in the emergency.
Miss Larson feels the effect of the tre-
mendous growth of the Eastbay cities. She
handles all the new service records and we
are glad that she is equal to the task.
15
April, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
CORPORATION YARD
Marilla M. Williams
Correspondent
THE proud father of a baby girl born
recently is R. Kretz. Congratulations,
Rudolph.
Fred Brownell and Frank Cressy are all
smiles these days. Cause: — Two new cars,
with self-starters, mind you, purchased
recently for the
Turn-off Department
and they were the
lucky ones.
F. Myall is a new
addition to the Turn-
off Department dur-
ing the vacation
period.
Ray O'Connor has
been transferred to
the Oakland Turn-
off Department from
the Berkeley Sales
Department. Wel-
come to our midst,
Ray.
Jimmie Nelson has been quite busy of
late remodeling the Meter Shop. Each man
has his individual bench to work on and
new bins have been made for the various
repair parts. Jimmie can honestly say he
has the best and most fully equipped meter
shop on the Pacific Coast.
"Grandpa" Wilkins invites all who love
the outdoor life to journey to Camp Hen-
rietta, Cazadera, for one week-end and
they will want to spend their vacation
there.
Frank Cotie was recently employed in
the Garage. We are glad to welcome you,
Frank.
Through the columns of Bubbles we
wish to express our deepest sympathy to
George Caya who recently lost his wife.
Joe Amaral certainly keeps things shin-
ing around the Yard. Keep up the good
work, Joe.
Ed McKinney is always on the job trying
to please everyone.
F. C. Kitchen is the proud owner of a
brand new "Chevy." There must have been
a lot of closing bills, huh !
Patrick Shally is the same old "Pat,"
with a smile for everyone.
The Yard employees surely did their
part in the 1% drive held a short time ago
for the benefit of the unfortunates in Oak-
land.
Bill Schlenker has been appointed first
assistant in the Warehouse. Keep up the
good work Bill, and you'll be at the "top"
yet.
Paul Havens takes a little trip up to
"Broadway" every noon. Paul says the
"Adeline Chicks" are not the kind for him.
Louis Lester Farrell has ventured out in
his sun-bonnet already, and is patiently
waiting for a few days to pass so he can
wear his "ice cream" suit. Lou says he
knows he looks like a million dollars in
that outfit, because he can make the women
turn their heads.
G. Perrone, A. Quilici and Max Rosch-
itisch are the so-called "Old Faithfuls" in
the Yard. They do their work well and
are always on the job.
"Les" Traver and family are just recov-
ering from a bad attack of ptomaine pois-
oning. We are glad to report that nothing
serious resulted and all are well on the
road to recovery.
Jack Griffin is very busy re-arranging
the Warehouse. When complete he will
have one of the finest warehouses in the
United States.
Mr. Mellmann of the Turn-off Depart-
ment, has become quite a dog fancier. The
further away the dog the more he fancies
it. Fred Brownell thinks a great deal of
dogs also, and expresses himself thusly:
?()&%tx.
Frank Myall says his Briscoe is a very
economical machine. He can pick up the
parts anywhere (mostly on the road).
Roy Waterman is still pegging away in-
stalling new services in the Oakland Dis-
trict. Roy averages ten services a day and
then some.
Who says the Eastbay cities are not
booming? Six hundred new services were
installed during the month of April, 1922.
Pete Cornachia has had a smiling counte-
nance lately. Reason : No leaks on Adeline
Street.
16
April, 1922
'BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
J. Fracchia has a truck all his own now
and is doing excellent work in the Street
Repair Department.
Bill Johnson? Yes, he is still on the
job. At the present time he is in Berkeley
in charge of some work.
A. Dow is a new employee in the Ma-
chine Shop.
Jimmie Nelson, Foreman Meter Repair
Shop, is the proud possessor of a new
"Elizabeth." Here's hoping she runs one
million miles without even a puncture.
"Tim" Suber and his crew are busily
engaged keeping pumps, etc., in A-l con-
dition.
Walter Gray is Harry Agnews' first as-
sistant now. We hope you like the work
and will be with us for a while, Walter.
Pedro Bof is one of the happiest men
around the Yard. He has purchased a home
of his own on 45th Street. Good luck,
Pedro.
"Paddy" Horan, Assistant Superintend-
ent, has the days and nights all twisted. He
gets home in time to come to work in the
morning, after battling with some of the
connections on the large mains during the
night.
T. Muzio has been appointed a Fore-
man. This is what efficient work does.
The Turn-off boys recently had their
annual dinner. Mr. Farrell was the invited
guest and all reported having a jolly time.
Frank Green entered the employ of the
Company recently. From all appearances
he has taken his work well in hand and
doing it in a first class manner.
Something radically wrong with our
Yard Superintendent. Last pay day he
forgot to call for his check.
District Manager McKean says Neptune
Beach is open again and the swimming is
great but Sunday is our only day off.
Foreman McKinney will be kept out of
mischief for the next few weeks getting
out pipe for new construction work.
There is considerable woe in some
quarters. McGorkle is out of business and
"Duke" is thinking very seriouslv of open-
ing up a shop for the down-trodden.
ALAMEDA DISTRICT
NOW that the beaches are open for
the Summer, it is expected that
many of the employees will take
advantage of the warm weather and spend
their Saturday afternoons sporting in the
briny deep. It is a pleasant way to elimin-
ate dull care, and at
the same time make
yourself physically
fit to solve the com-
ing week's prob-
lems. So come on in,
fellows, the water is
fine.
The Shriners' Cir-
cus at the Auditor-
ium proved to be
quite a drawing
card for the office
force, one young
lady bringing home
no less than four
kewpies with Titian
hair. This was enough
Geo. A. McKean
Correspondent
to give anyone a
thrill, but all agree in order to get a real
spooky feeling the up-to-date mummy
should be visited.
Mr. James Finch is now interested in
an almond orchard located near the town
of Livermore. James very frequently takes
a week-end trip to his ranch, and is fast
becoming an expert in the cultivation of
nuts. It is trusted that James will have a
goodly crop and allow his less fortunate
associates a few samples.
Joe Paladini, foreman of the service
truck, is occupying spare moments between
leaks and making taps, by running down
gates and putting covers where needed.
This necessary work when completed will
put the system in first class order, making
every gate most accessible in case of
emergency.
Although an island city with limited ter-
ritory, Alameda will soon boast of an
ideal golf links. Plans are about completed
for the laying out of about 150 acres of
reclaimed land on Bay Farm Island. This
course will be within easy reach of the
Eastbay district and with its wonderful
water hazard, should prove very popular
with the devotees of cow pasture pool.
17
April, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
BERKELEY DISTRICT
Harry B. Knowi.es
Correspondent
THE "Berkeley Bunch" miss Joe De
Mello's smiling face and we are
sorry to know of his illness. Hurry
up and get well, Joe.
We are mighty glad to have Walter
Stoddard back on the job, after a month's
enforced vacation from having his right
wrist broken "a la
Ford." From now on
he's gonna "Dodge'
'em.
For a "go get
'em" you'll have to
take your hat off to
Paul Meriam. He
has fitted into the
Service Department
in Berkeley like a
rubber suit on a
fat man, and surely
brings home the
bacon.
Mrs. Ray O'Con-
nor is again at home
after a serious attack of appendicitis. Her
operation proved highly successful and all
feel happy with Ray, to know that his wife
is O.K. again. That boy surely worried.
Charlie Fieberling's gang of husky meter
readers are some modest bunch, we'll say;
you would hardly know when they come
and go, but here's where we want to be put
on record : for co-operation with the Berke-
ley office, you can't beat 'em. The secret
of this successful, efficient force, as we see
it, is conscientious team work, being wide
awake and on the job.
The day would pass slowly indeed if
Dick Holroyd did not breeze in with that
busy what's-next air. How he covers so
much territory is some mystery, for it's no
trick at all for Dick to be head over heels
in some trench work up on the hillside,
and the next moment to find him down
near the waterfront with his foot on a
leak waiting for his gang to come along.
We're strong for Dick, from the janitor up
the line.
It is really a pleasure to receive letters,
such as have come to us in the past few
weeks, congratulating the Company on the
efficient service given the consumers and
voicing appreciation of the courtesy and
attention received
Have you noticed the unmistakable signs
of Spring throughout the office force?
We'll say we have. The other day we had
to look twice to see whether a new force
had come on the job or not. Flower gar-
den hats, white skirts, sport sweaters and
happy, smiling faces chase the grouch out
of the "he man" who is forced to wear
ordinary male clothes — all the same color
— mostly shiny, but the ladies, bless their
hearts, can and must wear those pretty,
fresh things like animated bouquets, if you
please — for we men expect it, and the
ladies they know it. The "Yeas" have it.
Resolution carried.
We wonder if the streets of Berkeley
look like a battlefield of trenches "from
an airplane." So much work is being done
by Lou Farrell's gang that if he keeps
up to the present schedule, Lou should re-
ceive a commission on the U. S. Army
board of strategy, whatever that is. Any-
how, when it comes to prospecting in the
streets for pipe "right aways" we are here
to remark that he's some human tractor.
As usually is the case, when a building
is supposed to be finished in a definite
period of time — the new building for the
Berkeley business office is up to schedule — ■
the architect liberally slaps on another
month of waiting before one can get into
new quarters; but the waiting is worth
while, for we surely will be proud of
our brand new beautiful quarters when
settled. Everything for the comfort and
convenience of the employees has been
considered, and efficient arrangements for
"Service" to the consumer have been care-
fully worked out. Berkeley will be proud
of our new home, we're sure.
The Second Annual Manufacturers' and
Merchants' Fair will be held in Berkeley
May 29th to June 3rd on a vacant lot west
of the Y. M. C. A. and opposite our office.
An appropriate and interesting exhibit
will be installed, Mr. P. E. Magerstadt is
now working on the design. The exhibit
will be 10 feet wide and 20 feet in length
and will be twice the size of the one we
had last year, and will be in charge of
competent employees during the fair.
18
April, 1922
'BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
RICHMOND DISTRICT
C. E. Clark
Correspondent
SPRING has arrived at last and with it
that longing for the great '"out of
doors" — to be in the hills on some
beautiful stream with fishing rod and bas-
ket trying to coax those beautiful trout.
No one from the Richmond District has
had the opportunity
of enjoying a fishing
trip to date, how-
ever all are making
plans.
John Rihn, our
good natured serv-
ice man, has just re-
ceived a new "Lizzy "
and he says it has a
self starter, too:
some class to John
now.
Foremen Pleich
and Wilson are kept
very busv these days
putting in new ser-
vices; seems that everybody has the same
idea, "I want a home of my own. Fore-
man Pleich has one crew installing a new
six-inch main on San Pablo Avenue be-
tween Clinton and Barrett and up Barrett
to Mira Vista, wbich main will supply the
Mira \ista section with water and fire
protection. People of this section are
celebrating this improvement for up to this
time they have never had any fire pro-
tection.
The grammar and high schools of our
City have been making a studv of our Com-
pany's water system. Recently two classes
in General Science from the high school
were taken by Ye Scribe to our filter
plant where Superintendent Evans in a
very happy and instructive way explained
in detail the full workings of that part of
our water system, giving a brief outline of
the collection and storage problem as well.
Assistant to our General Manager, C. E.
Thatcher, visited the Lincoln School last
month and with his store of knowledge of
the workings of our entire system, assisted
by numerous photographs, explained in
detail, to about 750 pupils, what the col-
lection, storage, purification and distribu-
tion of a domestic water supplv reallv
means. Mr. Thatcher eave a wonderful talk
and put it over in a way that the kiddies
thorough lv understood and enjoyed. Other
schools of our city are asking for a lecture
on this great and most interesting problem.
During the past few days the dredger
has completed the filling in of the Proctor
& Gamble holdings, with mud from the
Inner Harbor. With the completion of this
work it has made available some twenty-
five or thirty acres for the construction of
their factory.
Dredging is now going on in the Outer
Harbor, the silt being disposed of to ad-
vantage by depositing it on the low acreage
in the rear of the Municipal W harf.
Educationally, Richmond can boast of
one more school. S240.000.00 has been
awarded for the Junior High School, to
occupy the block between Bisssll and
Chanslor and Eighth and Ninth Streets.
Lncle Sam is now occupying the new
post office building at Sixth Street and
Xevin Avenue.
The strains of the pipe organ are now
being heard in the new T. & D. Theatre,
while the workmen are putting on the fin-
ishing touches of our handsome theatre.
Heres where Dan Riordan's dreams are
about to materialize.
The Pacific Manufacturing Company are
greatly enlarging their plant. There is also
to be competition in this line, as the Santa
Fe Foundry are adding an addition to their
factory at a cost of about S200.000.00.
This increased demand for "bath tubs"
should be all right for the Water Com-
pany. How about it?
A much-needed improvement in the San
Pablo district is about to be completed.
The sewering of this territory is well under
construction, Heafy. Morre & McXair hav-
ing the contract.
On account of prohibitory prices, street
improvement work has been at a stand-
still for several years; however, recently
the City Council has awarded numerous
contracts. These improvements cover prin-
cipally the outlying districts (benefiting
our service men ) .
Manager Knowles and his assistant,
Ralph Bovd. of the Berkeley District,
paid us a short visit two weeks ago. Come
as:ain.
19
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OAKLAND'S CITY HALL
Vol. V
AUGUST, 1922
No. 5
CAMPANILE - UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
BERKELEY
August, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA— YESTERDAY AND TODAY
By Charles Keeler, Secretary and Managing Director
Berkeley Chamber of Commerce.
Charles Keeler
THE winters were bitterly cold and
the summers oppressively hot in the
flat country of Wisconsin where my
boyhood days were passed. And then,
when a lad in high school, my step-
father went to California to spy out the
land. He came back to inform us that
he had chosen the
little University
town of Berkeley
for our future home.
With what eager
expectancy I sped
westward over the
Union and Central
Pacific line. Never
shall I forget the
wonder of that last
night going through
the Sierras. The
moon was full. The
dark, mysterious
pine forests, the
yawning valleys lost
in shadowy deeps,
the serrated ranges showing magically in
the silver glow — it was a new world opened
to my boyish fancy! I sat up all night in
a fever of excitement, peering out of the
car window.
Next morning we sped through the level
farm lands, past orchards and towns in the
Sacramento Valley, crossed the Carquinez
Straits on the great Benicia Ferry, engine,
train and all, and were whirled along the
shore of the great San Francisco Bay to
our destination.
All this happened in the fall of 1888.
Berkeley had about five thousand inhab-
itants at the time, mostly clustered imme-
diately to the south and east of the
University of California. Some five hun-
dred students attended the University, and
the Berkeley High School occupied two
rooms of the old barn of a public school
building on Center Street. There was not
a block of macadamized street in town.
The sidewalks consisted of two planks
nailed to cleats, and people walked through
deep dust in summer and waded through
mud puddles in winter. A few of the
more affluent families owned horses and
buggies. The people stood in line at the
Postoffice window for their mail, and car-
ried lanterns when they ventured out on
the dark streets at night. When a house
caught fire a volunteer hose cart was
pressed into service and a line of citizens
formed a bucket brigade. The house
generally burned to the ground and the
efforts of the amateur fire fighters were
confined to saving adjoining property.
The only industrial plant was a powder
works that blew up now and then, giving
a momentary thrill of excitement to the
people of this pastoral village. From the
Berkeley hills the far spread plain was a
checker board of grain fields and orchards,
with groups of homes dotted here and
there. Strawberry Creek flowed through
the business district, bordered with beauti-
ful old live oaks. The only car service
was an antiquated train drawn by a steam
engine puffing through the business section,
and a horse car from Oakland to Tem-
escal connecting with a narrow gauge road
with a wheezy little engine that ran out
to the University.
In the thirty-four years that have elapsed
since those boyhood days, what a miracle
of progress has been wrought! The city
and the University have each grown over
twelve-fold. Today Berkeley has between
sixty and seventy thousand inhabitants and
the University of California, with eleven
thousand students, is said to be the largest
university in America and probably the
largest in the world. The city has 130
miles of macadamized streets and 15 miles
of permanent pavement, which would be
an average of four and .a quarter miles a
year of street paving over this thirty-four
year period. During the same time from
350 to 400 miles of sidewalk have been
laid, or an average of over ten miles a
year.
The little old combination grammar and
high school has been supplanted by twenty-
two school buildings, most of which are
of the most modern and attractive type of
architecture. In these buildings is con-
ducted a school program of an inspiring
character, with a force of nearly five hun-
dred highly trained teachers. Berkeley
todav has an educational system from
August, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
kindergarten to post-graduate University
courses that makes the city the educational
center of the Pacific Coast.
The present fire system of Berkeley is
such that the best type of apparatus can
reach any spot in Berkeley two minutes
after an alarm is sounded. The one
Berkeley constable of my school days has
given place to a police force that is a
model in progressive police work for the
whole United States. Under the able
leadership of August Vollmer a new type
of police work has been developed that is
at once humane, scientific and effective. A
map in the police department indicates by
a system of colored pins every wayward
child in Berkeley and the officers are
charged with the responsibility of super-
vising their play and helping to direct
their lives into channels that will lead to
good citizenship. Police officers are
trained in social welfare work, in psychol-
ogy and in crime detection. The police
department is on the whole seeking to
upbuild character and to use preventive
measures whenever practicable.
In the early days of my life in Berkeley
the architecture was of the "Mary Ann"
variation of Queen Ann style, interspersed
with some feeble imitations of Colonial.
The only thing that saved the town from
being hopelessly commonplace was the
ample gardens with their luxurious growth
of varied bloom. Fragrant wistaria hung
in purple clusters over the porches and
arbors and the Banksia roses tossed their
great masses of powdery white and cream
sprays against the walls. There were
fragrant orange blossoms on the trees in
summer, and great white magnolia blooms
opened amid the stiff glossy leaves. Beds
of violets and masses of heliotrope mingled
their fragrance with honeysuckle bushes
and petunias. Then there were the palm
trees to give a tropical note to the foliage,
with dark pines of the northland growing
near by. Indeed there was a mingling of
trees, shrubs and flowers of all climates
and all countries. The lofty eucalyptus
trees of Australia and the acacias loaded
with powdery golden blossoms were quite
as much at home as the glorious old native
live oaks by the canons, and the laurels
growing in the higher glades of the hills.
Today the gardens are still here, smaller
individually, but incomparably finer and
more widely distributed in the aggregate.
Since those early days in Berkeley I have
wandered over the world, visiting the gar-
dens of Japan and India, of Italy and
England, but nowhere have I seen the
profusion and variety of bloom that adorns
the small gardens of Berkeley.
Some thirty years ago Mr. A. Page
Brown, an Eastern architect of taste and
culture, opened an office in San Francisco.
Business Center of Berkeley, Shattuck Avenue
3
August, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
He brought out a group of young archi-
tects who with him started the Renaissance
in domestic architecture in the Bay region.
It entered Berkeley in an occasional home
of unpainted shingles with the interior
largely paneled with broad slabs of native
California redwood. Then, some twenty
years ago, a little group of pioneers in the
hill section to the north of the University
grounds, founded the Hillside Club for the
purpose of influencing the architecture of
that undeveloped section. As a result of
their efforts, and especially through the
genius of one most original and vital
architect, Bernard Maybeck, a new type of
home was developed and a new archi-
tectural note was sounded. It had a hint
of the Japanese, something reminiscent of
Mediterranean architecture, yet a note of
its own that was distinctly Californian.
Of late years the plastered bungalow has
appeared, and still more recently, with the
entrance of metropolitan ideas, a limited
number of apartment houses.
The most important factor in the mod-
ern building program of Berkeley has
been a model zoning law and a model
building law. The zoning law provides
classified districts to which various types
of buildings are restricted. Instead of the
one powder factory of my early days,
Berkeley at the present time has a hundred
and twenty-five industrial plants. These
are located for the most part in the dis-
trict along the bay shore, near the main
line of the Southern Pacific railroad and
along the tracks of the Santa Fe road a
few blocks farther east.
The Pacific Port Terminal Company has
been incorporated and a lease has been
entered into with the City of Berkelev for
the development of the waterfront. Plans
have been made by B. F. Cresson, Jr.,
engineer of the port of New York, for a
series of great piers extending three miles
into the Bay and with a width of thirty-five
hundred feet, upon which it is proposed to
locate factories adjacent to warehouses and
docks where rail and ship will meet. This
great project will necessarily be a gradual
development as business grows, but each
added unit will conform to a comprehen-
sive plan.
The present industrial plants employ
3,764 persons with an annual payroll of
$4,184,860. They are capitalized at
$13,805,100 and the value of the products
for the year 1921 was $45,766,400. Owing
to an abundance of electric power at a low
rate, nearly half of the cost of motive
power is for electricity. Fuel oil, which
is also produced in larger quantities in
California than elsewhere, is the next in
use, while about a fourth as much cost is
devoted to gas. For this reason the man-
ufacturing plants of Berkeley do not
generate smoke to obscure the view and
pollute the air.
Berkeley prides itself on its vital statis-
tics, which are among the most favorable
of any city in the United States. The
high average of health is due to good
sanitation, good drainage, careful super-
vision of public health and the care exer-
cised in keeping the water free from con-
tamination. The East Bay Water Com-
pany owns over 40,000 acres of watershed
land which are under constant supervision.
The water, which is all impounded in
reservoirs, is chlorinated, filtered and
aerated. Bacteriological tests are made
twice a day, so that the water is guaran-
teed to the public as disease proof. Owing
to these precautions it may fairly be said
that a family coming to Berkeley with
children to rear will have the best chance
of saving them all to grow to maturity
that they could have anywhere in the
world.
What greater inducements has any city
to offer for prospective home seekers than
these I have enumerated? Here is to be
found health, the enjoyment of a tem-
perate climate with the thermometer sel-
dom rising above 80 degrees in summer
and seldom falling to the freezing point in
winter, the best of police and fire protec-
tion, the best of educational facilities,
attractive modest homes,, two big cities
within easy commuting distance and con-
nected by exceptionally fine transportation
service, and an unusually high type of
citizenship. I would add to this as the
croAvning attraction, beauty of setting and
an appreciation of culture and beauty
among the people.
The Chamber of Commerce, in addition
to promoting business and industry, is
working to make Berkeley the ideal home
city of America, and to create here a
center of the arts. Already many musi-
cians, writers, painters and handicraft
(Continued on page 9)
4
August, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bav Water Co.
THE CONTRA COSTA HILLS FIRE
PREVENTION
By Paul I. Daniels, Land Agent,
East Bay Water Company.
NOT more than fifteen years ago the hills lying
along the easterly portions of the cities of Oak-
land and Berkeley were not as now covered with
groves of forest trees, but were practically bare on the
western slope and very sparsely dotted with oaks on the
eastern side. At that time the only visible mantle to the
hills was the wild grass, green and beautiful in the
winter, but rather mountainous in the summer when dry
and brown.
During the time previous to the planting of trees,
grass fires were of common occurrence during the sum-
mer months and little heed was given the matter excepting
by the people depending on the grass for cattle feed.
To them the fires were a great loss then as now, many
times forcing the owners of cattle to dispose of their
stock at a great sacrifice owing to the feed being
destroyed by fire.
During the year 1910 work was commenced on a
general scheme of forest planting on Contra Costa Hills.
A great amount of money and labor was expended on
the project. The results are quite apparent today. It
is doubtful if there is any one who has looked at the
condition of the hills without the forest and now, would
care to see the old condition return, yet there is always
a chance that just such a thing may happen if proper
precautions are not taken to guard these wooded sections
from the three great destroyers of forests, namely, Fire,
Disease and destructive Insects. Of the three, fire is the
most destructive if not properly guarded against.
Disastrous forest fires are generally the result of
carelessness on the part of some person and easily
prevented by a little care and thought on the part of
those traveling through the dry hills or forests. A fire
once started may easily get out of control and cause
irreparable damage. Pine trees badly scorched are gone
forever; some other trees such as the eucalyptus may
recover, but it takes a long time for them to do so.
The increasing amount of automobile and foot travel
through the Contra Costa Hills over the scenic boulevards
and trails has multiplied many times the danger from fire.
As a result of the fire along the Tunnel Road during
the summer of 1921 when approximately two-fifths of
the pine trees plantationing that section was totally de-
stroyed, the matter of protecting these plantations on the
hills was taken up in a co-operative way by the Forestry
August, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Planted Forest Within Few Minutes Walk of the Eastbay Cities
Department of the University of California,
the East Bay Water Company and the City
of Oakland, and the City of Berkeley, to-
gether with the co-operation of the Cali-
fornia State Board of Forestry, with the
result that a fund of $2000 was provided, a
plan formed and a preliminary organiza-
tion was put in the field June 1, 1922. This
organization is under the general direc-
tion of State Forester M. B. Pratt, who is
in charge of fire fighting operations. From
funds provided six large steel boxes
equipped with tools for fire fighting were
purchased. These boxes were placed at
the following locations:
1 — At the north end of Spruce Street in
front of Summit Reservoir, East Bay
Water Company.
2 — In Telegraph Canyon (Claremont
Canyon) about l/o mile above Clare-
mont Hotel.
3 — At the west end of Inter-County
Tunnel on the Tunnel Road.
4 — At Observation Point on the Skyline
Boulevard between Tunnel Road and
Thornhill.
5 — At junction of new Skyline Boule-
vard extension and the Snake Road.
6 — On Joaquin Miller road opposite
office of Joaquin Miller Acres.
Other boxes equipped with proper tools
will be added as soon as funds are avail-
able to purchase same.
The boxes contain shovels, rakes, hoes,
axes, lanterns and water bags. This equip-
ment is to be used for fire fighting pur-
poses only. Each box is labeled "Califor-
nia State Board of Forestry. In case of
Fire Telephone Lakeside 585." Deputy
State fire wardens have been appointed by
the State Board of Forestry as shown on
pages ten and eleven. Other Deputy State
fire wardens are to be added as the case
demands.
The Deputy State fire wardens take
charge of all fires in their districts and
have authority to requisition aid of any
able bodied citizen between the ages of 18
and 50 to assist in putting out fires in any
district outside of incorporated cities. Any
person capable of performing such duties
who refuses to comply is subject to arrest
and fine.
A meeting was called on the evening of
July 13th by the Contra Costa Hills Club in
the Assembly Hall of the Oakland Tribune.
At this meeting the matter was discussed
of enlarging the organization and facilities
for fire prevention. A temporary commit-
tee was appointed for the purpose of get-
ting together those most vitally interested
in the prevention of fires in the Contra
Costa Hills.
On July 18th the temporary committee
and representatives from various organiza-
tions, corporations and municipalities in
the Eastbay district were present. At this
meeting a resolution was adopted making
the temporary committee, together with
the representatives present, a permanent
committee to be known as the Contra
Costa Hills Fire Protection Committee.
The interests represented at this com-
mittee meeting were as follows: The cities
of Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, Alameda,
and Piedmont by their fire departments;
the Oakland and Berkeley park depart-
ments; the University of California by
the Forestry department; the State Board
of Forestry by the State Forester; the
August, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
Oakland Chamber of Commerce; the
Berkeley Chamber of Commerce; the
Contra Costa Hills Club; the East Bay
Water Company; the Oakland Traction
Company; the San Francisco-Sacramento
Railway; Oakland Real Estate Board;
Automobile Dealers' Association; East
Bay Safety Council, and the Berkeley Boy
Scouts by the Scoutmaster.
At the present time there is a great need
for funds to carry on the work and for the
purchase of additional equipment for pro-
tecting the hills and tree plantations. The
money for the purchase of the equipment
to date and for the salary of the District
Fire Ranger was provided by the East Bay
Water Company, the City of Oakland, City
of Berkeley, the University of California
and California State Board of Forestry.
To properly carry on the work as
planned, an additional sum of $5000 is
required. Of this sum $1000 has been
contributed up to July 24th. The money
collected is to be used for fire prevention
and control only. No salaries or fees are
to be distributed to members of the com-
mittee. Funds are to be deposited in a
bank selected by the committee, such
account to stand in the name of Contra
Costa Hills Fire Protection Committee.
All bills or expenses in connection with
the prevention and control of fires in the
Contra Costa Hills which may come under
the direction of this committee are to be
referred to the District Fire Ranger for
approval of same. The signatures of two
of a finance committee of five are required
for the withdrawal of funds.
The importance of properly protecting
the Contra Costa Hills forest areas cannot
be overestimated as this forest area is the
largest and best plantation of its kind in
the State of California and its loss would
be keenly felt by all of the Eastbay com-
munity.
At the California State primary election
on August 29, 1922, the City of Oakland
presents the proposition of voting bonds
for the purchase of some 1500 acres of the
best of the forest section for the purpose
of a public park by the City of Oakland.
It is therefore especially important that
every measure of protection be afforded
the forests now and in the future so that
this area may be a lasting attraction and
source of enjoyment to the residents of
the Eastbay districts.
For the present, build no fires in the
hills. Smokers, be careful where you
throw burning tobacco. Do not burn rub-
bish without clearing grass area around
the fire. Do not burn grass off the hills
without permit from fire department, and
then only with some one in charge who is
experienced in such matters.
"Save The Trees."
Planted Forest Near Redwood Canyon, Contra Costa Hills
7
August, 1922
BUBBLES'
East Bay Water Co.
W'
Issued by
EAST BAY WATER COMPANY
Edited by the Employees
and devoted to their interest and benefit.
Address communications to Bubbles, care of
East Bay Water Company
512 Sixteenth Street
Oakland, California
ta ta te
George H. Wilhelm Editor-in-Chief
Charlie E. Thatcher Managing Editor
Helen P. Armstrong Asst. Managing Editor
John R. Hunter Business Manager
Writers on Technical Matters
F. J. Klaus Asst. Chief Engineer
H. Reinhardt Asst. Chief Engineer
P. E. Magerstadt Designing Engineer
Paul I. Daniels Sanitary Engineer
George W. Hawlev Engineer in Charse
U. S. L. W. S. and S. P. C. W. R. I.
W. R. Curtin Engineering Department
Correspondents
Oakland District J. P. Fieberling
Berkeley District Harry B. Knowles
Alameda District G. A. McKean
Richmond District C. E. Clark
Corporation Yard Marilla M. Williams
Vol. V.
AUGUST, 1922
No. 5
UNREST
GOVERNMENT and society are pri-
marily great human organizations,
and as such their only permanent
basis lies in the kindliness and decencies
of human relations; or, in other words,
the mutual understanding of friends. Law
and order continue to exist only when
they are the expressions of that friend-
ship; and when hatred and distrust jostle
kindliness to the wall, revolutions sweep
governments into the dust-heap and a new
structure has to be built up.
It does not pay to get excited, especially
about things which are exciting. For in-
stance, the high cost of living, strikes, race
riots, lockouts, socialism, bolshevism, pol-
itics, bomb plots, cattle ticks, red flag
parades, taxes and Mexico. The man who
keeps his head and thinks gets to the real
basis of things.
Russia and Germany have the unrest
of ignorance, defeat and despair; we have
the unrest of knowledge, victory and con-
fidence. Do you suppose these Russians
ever voted for a senator or a dog catcher?
To them their government was something
intangible that put them in jail or sent
them to war. Then suddenly there is some
one talking in the street. They tell them
everything is theirs! The mines, the fac-
tories, the farms, everything. Can you
imagine such a thing in America?
What we need is the law-abiding spirit.
When this spirit permeates the letter of
the law we shall have order, but not
before. Citizenship is a harder thing than
we first thought. It goes clown into the
very roots of life, but like all great things
it is worth the price of energy and wisdom
and love that it demands.
We must respect our differences, but
feel our unity. Let us avoid waste — waste
of energy most of all. And how much
energy can be wasted in antagonisms!
Making good in our various activities is
the final test of good citizenship.
YOUR CHECK
They say the four sweetest words in the
English language are, "Enclosed please
find check."'
I believe every one fully appreciates the
importance of this phase of business inter-
course, but I also believe it is good for any
man to throw the spotlight on his "pay
check" now and then and ask himself a
few questions.
The right caliber of business man gets
as much pleasure out of signing a check
for a legitimate obligation as he does in
receiving one on a just account — the real
joy comes from the satisfaction in a fel-
low's breast that he has given full measure
of value for the amount received — or that
he has received 100 cents on the dollar
for the amount paid out.
The ideal business connection is a cor-
rect balance of satisfaction on the part of
the man who signs the check and the man
who writes his name across the back.
And in the natural channels of business
on its highest plane, that balance is always
trying to right itself. There may be
inequalities at times on one side or the
other — but they cannot endure.
August, 1922 "BUBBLES" East Bay Water Co.
If a man is earning more than he is BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA
getting it cannot last long — on the other (Continued from page 4)
hand if he is receiving more than he is workers reside here5 and the number is
entitled to for the service rendered, that constantl increasing.
or Tin at I ?) si"
The signatures on both sides of a check The men of prophetic vision who chose
acknowledge an obligation which should this spot for the site of the University of
always be borne in mind by both parties California laid the foundations for a city
to the deal, and there is nothing that will of boundless potentialities. From the
take the place of that feeling of content- slopes of the fair, rolling Berkeley hills,
ment which comes from completely ful- looking over the broad expanse of San
filling an obligation. Francisco Bay, the eye ranges to the Golden
PHILOSOPHY ^ate directly opposite. Through this
highway the commerce of the Pacific is
Whatever else may happen movin in and QUt in ever increasing vol-
Now that the worlds gone dry, ume ^ ^ ^ mainland shore of
the sailor still will have his port, , r 111 r *i_ t» •£„
The farmer have his rye; the Sreat central ha1rbor1 °* *e ^aClfic
The cotton still has got its gin, Coast> facinS more than half *f human
The sea coast has its bar, race swarming in the Orient, will grow a
And each of us will have a bier great city, influencing with its thought
No matter where we are. the future destiny of the world.
GOOD-WILL IS PUBLIC UTILITY'S CHIEF ASSET
Most Important of Service Company's Business Is to Secure
Public Esteem.
N. W. Simpson, a member of the Missouri Public Service Commission, recently
delivered a pointed address at a telephone convention. A portion of it, dealing with
the question of relations with the public, is quoted below :
"There is an old truism which says that no chain is stronger
than its weakest link. The weakest link with utility operators
in general is that where their employees come into direct con-
tact with their consumers. It is the most vulnerable point of
the whole organized fabric of your business. And so I repeat
that the most important element of any utility's business is
the holding of the individual and collective good-will of the
people it serves.
"All public service utilities employees should know that
no small portion of the public they serve only know the utility
through business contact with a limited class of employees.
"The viewpoint of this large class of customers toward the
utility in general is predicated almost entirely upon the im-
pression made upon them by this particular class of employ-
ees. The work of these employees ofttimes spans the gap of
favorable or unfavorable feeling toward the company on the
part of these consumers.
"In my opinion there is no calling in life more difficult and
exacting than that resting upon those who are expected to read
the pulse of the public and hold its support."
■ — Western Union Telegraph Company, Commercial Suggestions.
MAP SHOWING DISTRICT UNDER FIR
Red dots • indicate location Deputy State fire wardens
Red lines —
DEPUTY STAT]
NAME ADDRESS TELEPHONE
Tim Tierney San Leandro Lake Lakeside 585
Wm. M. Noia Kaiser Creek No Telephone
A. C. Webb Pinehurst and Madrone Parks Piedmont 345
E. G. Webster East Portal S. F.-S. Ry. Sacramento Short Line. Piedmont 345
Jas. McCosker Upper San Leandro Canyon No Telephone
A. Reuter Inter-Countv Tunnel Canary Cottage Berkeley 787
' S A. M
a N C J s
F R A
*
PROTECTION, CONTRA COSTA HILLS
indicate main highways
Red crosses X indicate fire tool boxes
[IFIRE WARDENS
TELEPHONE
).No Telephone
.No
NAME ADDRESS
B. V. Senter Curran Ranch, Wild Cat Creek./ Telephone will
T. C. Kendall Upper San Pablo Lake \ soon be installed / No Telephone
W. H. Jordan Orinda Park District - Berkeley 9405-R4
Ira Ogden San Pablo Dam Lakeside 585
H. H. Boyer Lafayette Lafayette
John B. Dospital... Sequoyah Country Club ~ Elmhurst 121
August, 1922
BUBBLES'
East Bay Water Co.
Bv William Aiciibee
If you want to "get on" you must move
and lay off "looking on."
Maybe love went blind reading love's
letters from Russian River.
Electric light poles never attack an auto-
mobile except in self-defense.
Light colored hose seem to have had
their usual "run" this Summer.
The fellow who attends to his job has
no time to exercise his jaw bone.
It won't be long before next vacation
time rolls around if we all keep busy.
Divorcing the railroads is easy enough,
but which is to pay alimony? — there's the
rub.
Now that vacations are over, let's get in
and help our Company for the next fifty
weeks.
Every woman who uses soft soap for
the family washing should own a lye
detector.
Virginia of Berkeley, what was the
cause of your domestic "silence" in your
school days?
If you are tired of things at home, fill
your radiator with alcohol and begin your
race for jail.
Marilla keeps the sun shining around the
Corporation Yard. She makes Joe sweep
out the shade.
After all, it is far better to be thought
a fool and remain silent than to speak and
remove all doubt.
Most any lawyer will take hold of your
case for a few dollars, but it will cost a
lot to make him let go.
You can't go over the top until you get
out of the trench; a good many men still
have their feet in the mud.
Any girl who goes through college with-
out having her heart busted a couple o'
times will make a fine teacher.
A coat of tan is cooler than a sweater
when worn on Stinson Beach. Eh, Leila —
even better than a spongee waist.
Breathes there a man with soul so dead
who never to himself hath said, "Why not
have light wines and beer, Volstead?"
From the news coming out of the Cen-
tral Billing Bureau, one comes to the con-
clusion that "cooing" goes with the billing.
Live wires should always conduct them-
selves in such a manner as will insure
safety to those coming in contact with
them.
If we would all devote a little time each
day to the consideration of our own faults,
we would not have time to find them in
others.
Some people did not take a vacation
this year owing to the fact that they have
been living several steps ahead of their
incomes.
My Bonnie leaned over the gas tank,
the height of its contents to see ; she lighted
a match to assist her — Oh, bring back mv
Bonnie to me!
Carmel is a nice quiet place to rest — if
a man likes to roam around a graveyard,
according to re-Marks we've heard around
the second floor.
Miss Helen Willamette Bauer, pleased
to meet you. Don't you think the streets
of Oakland beat those of Portland? Ours
are double width.
This is the time of the year when our
great-great-grandparents used to begin to
shake the moth balls out of their red
flannel underwear.
12
August. 1922
"BUBBLES'
East Bay Water Co.
Every little movement has a meaning of
its own. If you don't believe it look in the
Billing room — the machines will prove it.
Thelma of Alameda, never mind the
freckles — they're only skin deep, anyway.
A couple of coats of paint will remove
freckles and tan.
People don't think about you half as
often as you think they do, so don't be
afraid of "what people will think," girls,
if you dress plainer.
Some men are born to command and
others get married. You fellows who are
not equal to the task apply to E. B. W. Co.,
Matrimonial Bureau.
Some doctors will bet all they have that
when they diagnose your case as pneu-
monia, you will die of pneumonia, and the
autopsy will prove it.
Say, fellows, when a girl stares at you
on the street, it's no sign she admires you.
Nine times out of ten she's wondering if
you cut your own hair.
A new hose inspector has passed the
civil service examination, whose duty will
be to inspect all hose in the city — used for
fire purposes, of course.
The lady who is busy "looking for a
home" (being tired of boarding), can find
one easy enough if she will just look
around the second floor.
In a flivver up the Russian River my
heart began to quiver — no, he did not
speak the word, but gently asked if I
knew how to parboil liver.
Some people serve in a low-down man-
ner. There's the chiropodist, for instance.
Some of us remember when he was a corn
doctor — but titles do change.
We note that John Buyer is busy "rush-
ing" the pipe. If that's all he's rushing
it's all right. Oh, but them was the days,
when we rushed the growler.
Of course, it's only a matter of time
before all our girls are married off. When
they make good with the Company no fur-
ther recommendation is necessary.
The big cities on the coast have buried
the pickaxe and hammer and have elimi-
nated poison gas. It is to be hoped that
they have not marked the burial places.
The "Turn-off" boys are organizing a
lodge to be known as the "Dependable
Order of Twisters." Their uniforms will
be pale pink silk sweaters from Pfister's.
Age is a matter of viewpoint, not simply
the result of an accumulation of birthdays.
If your spirit is young, you're young, but
if it's old, you're leaning toward the junk
pile.
Josephine, here's hoping that you will
always steer the good ship into safe waters,
avoiding the rocks and shoals of life's
tempestuous voyage o'er the Matrimonial
Sea.
One automobile to every five people in
California. When the number increases
to three, the other two will have to "re-
tire"— remain off the streets for safety's
sake.
Maybe if it were suggested by the proper
person, the Company would provide hope
chests for all the girls who have been with
the Company for over one year. What do
you say, Marilla?
Pleased to meet you, Florence, and glad
to learn that you are now Cory-related to
the Berkeley office through your perma-
nent engagement as announced in this
issue. Will call later.
Here's hoping that when Double L.
Farrell returns from New Orleans he will
have something new to tell us about
Molasses and how the people of that sec-
tion gargle it on a cold morning.
First he gives her a "ring on the finger"
— that's good. Then a box on the ear —
that's not so good. Then she gets a
divorce — that's bad. And the judge throws
in a bit of alimony — that's not so bad.
We have always thought that somebody
would Nipper sooner or later — but it hap-
pened sooner, and it is a pleasure to know
that she would have Nunn of that going
outside of the family for a life's com-
panion.
The Soviet government's army in Russia
is supported by the crown jewels. Our
own Lake Merritt's necklace will be sup-
ported by a lot of Poles, radiating peace,
happiness and prosperity. What a dif-
ference !
13
August, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
"BUBBLES" from OUR
CORRESPONDENTS
OAKLAND • BERKELEY
ALAMEDA- RICHMOND
CORPORATION YARD
OAKLAND DISTRICT
C GENERAL OFFICES — Miss Myrtle
-w Reimers has just returned from
Monte Rio where she spent fifteen
days of a strenuous vacation.
Miss Eva Gravem has also returned from
Los Angeles with a fine coat of tan and
SOME pictures.
Mrs. Gibson had
a real vacation this
year and rested at
home.
Auditor Sedgwick
has moved out into
the wilds. The first
day in his new
home he decided to
show the neighbors
what a help he was
to his wife, so he
immediately pro-
ceeded to clean up
the back yard. Re- j. P. Fieberlixg
Suit: A visit to the Correspondent
doctor; about $35 expense with a small boy
finishing the job. Every man to his trade.
Miss Grace Blake enjoved a regular
vacation this year — Portland, Seattle, Spo-
kane, \ ancouver, Lake Louise, Yellowstone
Park, etc. Three perfectly good weeks out
of sight of a typewriter, a notebook and,
incidentally, a check machine.
Secretary Marks enjoyed a week's rest
at Carmel recently.
Miss Helen Bauer is a new addition to
the stenographic division. We are glad to
have her with us and hope she will soon
like us and our city as well as Portland.
On July 1st this Company established a
laboratory at the San Pablo filter plant
for complete bacterial and chemical analy-
ses of all the water in the entire system.
The work carried on by this laboratory has
previously been done under contract, but
the management deemed it advisable to
assume this work ourselves. The labora-
tory is under the direct supervision of Mr.
Wilfred F. Langelier, chemist and bac-
teriologist for the California State Board
of Health. Gardner Chiles, who has been
previously taking samples for the Contract
Laboratories, is now assistant to Professor
Langelier and is doing the routine exam-
inations under his direction. W. H. Evans,
in charge of the San Pablo filter plant, is
also rendering valuable assistance in the
operation of this laboratory.
The cottage for the operator at the San
Pablo filter plant is being constructed
under the supervision of Mr. George A.
Hunter. Good progress is being made on
this cottage, which will be occupied before
winter.
Plans are completed for the superin-
tendent's cottage at San Pablo Lake, and
construction work will start on it at the
earliest opportunity.
Plans are also completed for the lodge
at San Pablo Lake and as soon as condi-
tions permit, construction will start on this
building.
Considerable work has been done
around all stations and properties of the
Company along the line of beautifying the
properties and cleaning up the weeds in
order to reduce the fire menace to a mini-
mum and make the properties more pleas-
ing to the public.
The California section of the American
Water Works Association will hold its
annual convention in Oakland some time
in October. This Company will be the
host and plans are now under way to
entertain the visitors.
At the present time we have the largest
force of workmen ever employed by the
Company.
The 16-inch line from Summit Reservoir
to Berkeley is practically completed.
We are running a line from Temescal
Reservoir along the Sacramento Short
Line's right of way and expect to complete
the work in about two weeks.
Assistant Chief Engineer Reinhardt is
with us again. He had to stay at home for
a few days entertaining a visitor.
The new Pinehaven pumping station is
now in active operation. This will supply
14
August, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
water to consumers along the Skyline
Boulevard.
The Prospect Booster has been started
for the summer season.
We are making alterations on the 40th
Street Station to take care of the heavier
consumption in the Claremont district.
Concrete work on the new East 29th
Street pumping station has been completed.
Mr. Paul E. Magerstadt's new home
overlooking Lake Temescal will soon be
completed. He expects to be in it by Sep-
tember 1st.
On July 15th this Company paid the
regular quarterly dividend on Class "A"
6% Cumulative Preferred Stock at the rate
of 6% per annum; also a dividend on its
Class "B" Non-cumulative Preferred Stock
at the rate of 5% per annum.
Small hand pumps have been installed
at Summit Reservoir and Garber Receiver
No. 1, where the public may obtain drink-
ing water for themselves and automobiles.
All they have to do is work for it, other-
wise it's free.
George A. Hunter, Superintendent of
General Construction, has recently greatly
augmented his force owing to the great
rush of work demanded by the Berkeley
District, especially the installation of the
Company's booth at the Manufacturers'
exhibit, also fitting out the new Berkeley
office. Mr. Hunter had complete charge
of these jobs and superintended the instal-
lation in person. Much credit is due him
for the attractive exhibit and the arrange-
ment of the Berkeley office.
Mr. Zeb Knott, Commissioner of Contra
Costa County, is now completing what is
known as the May Road connecting the
new San Pablo highway with the Amend
or Pinole road.
Work on the Thompson Park Tract in
Alameda is nearing completion. This will
be one of the most beautiful and attractive
subdivisions in Alameda. It will have 59
desirable lots. In the center of the tract
is an 80-foot street with a 15-foot parking
strip through the center which is to be
planted in flowers, trees and shrubs. New
cement walks, pavements and everything
up to date will be added to beautify this
home site.
Work on the new San Pablo highway is
progressing rapidly. Land Sales Agent
Andruss has sold several home sites along
this property in anticipation of this open-
ing and expects considerable activity as
soon as the highway is completed. This
will be opened about October 1st.
Mr. M. J. Williams has purchased one
of the most beautiful lots in Broadmoor.
He is now making plans for a fine new
home in the cherry belt.
Mr. C. J. Andruss is now the owner of
a 260-acre tract up San Pablo Creek
adjoining the property of this Company.
He plans to use it for a golf course. It
has an 1800-foot frontage on the San
Pablo Creek highway and the water facili-
ties are unequaled in this vicinity.
Purchasing Agent Hunter is busy trying
to RUSH the pipe. Work is being held
up on account of the delay in delivery.
Cashier Crafts is all dolled up in his
pongee shirt enjoying life camping in the
wilds away from the filthy lucre, and inci-
dentally working down a little of that
superfluous weight.
Superintendent L. L. Farrell is now in
New Orleans on a business trip. He
expects to return with a GOOD pipe story
and incidentally to get a little vacation
with a full night's sleep.
The sympathy of the entire office is
extended to Miss Gravem in the loss of
her mother.
OAKLAND BUSINESS OFFICE— The
fifteenth anniversary of Miss Pollard's
service with the Water Company occurred
on July 30th. She is very proud of her
record and the Company is fortunate in
having such a staunch servant.
The business of the Service Department
keeps up and Martin Blote has his hands
full taking new taps. The boom in new
building which started around the first of
the year has not abated and about three
hundred new services a month are being
installed.
The vacation period is about half
through and a great many have taken their
rest and returned. Due to the co-operation
of all there has been very little upset or
congestion and those who return from their
outing come back with added vigor due to
a brief respite from the toil of the daily
routine of their office work. Lake Tahoe
seems to be the favorite spot of the major-
ity, and the resorts there registered among
their distinguished guests Con Maloney,
A. M. Drinkwater, Miss Edith Whittier and
others from the Company.
15
August, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Fritz Goetz is progressing nicely with
his voice culture and had the honor of
singing his first public solo in one of the
churches here. He is working hard at his
art and we predict that he will be quite a
vocalist in the near future.
The East Bav Market has opened its
doors for business and it is with a great
deal of pleasure that congratulations are
extended to this new enterprise in our
neighborhood. This institution marks
another advance in the progress of Oak-
land and it is hoped it meets with the
success it deserves. It is also observed that
the Pacific Gas and Electric building is
throwing its shadow on the skyline, and
before long it, too, will be opened for
business and add its strength to the onward
march of our city.
Thanks is hereby extended to Mr. Geo.
Furniss of the Pacific Gas and Electric
Company for his courtesy in sending the
writer a copv of their house journal each
month.
John and Josephine Larson were sud-
denlv called to Salt Lake City on account
of the death of their father. The sympathy
of their associates is extended during these
their sad hours of bereavement.
Miss Arvilla Daniels is substituting
during the vacation period and has been
assigned to the paid files.
Congratulations to the newlyweds. Mrs.
Lebo. who was formerly Miss Christensen,
and Mrs. Nunn, who was formerly Miss
Nipper. Miss Nipper believed in keeping
within the family circle, so selected Paul
Nunn of the Cashier's Department as her
life's companion.
Mrs. Leila Blomfield spent her vacation
at Stinson Beach and returned with a won-
derful coat of tan. She is a lover of out-
door life and exercise, and this trip gave
her the opportunity to fully indulge her
desires in this line.
CENTRAL BILLING BUREAU— "Into
todav already walks tomorrow," was the
saying of a wise old sage, but had he lived
todav he would no doubt say, "Oh, tomor-
row, When, Where and Why?" Only
vesterday Miss Mulholland was ticking
awav on the comptometer; today wTe see
the alert fingers of Miss Rogers prancing
over the same keys, while from Los An-
geles comes the message, "This is the life,"
signed Mrs. Stephens. Sally, the bunch
wish you and your husband health, happi-
ness and success. Again the When, Where
and Why?
Miss Rogers is also wearing the requi-
site for entrance into the matrimonial
game. She- believes in preparedness by
accumulating a librarv of cook books.
NEXT!
Miss Davis does not say very much, but
her hope chest is filling up just the same.
We also understand that Miss Larson is
leaving us in September to embark on the
matrimonial ship. We regret very much
to lose Josephine as she has held a re-
sponsible position and been equal to her
various duties.
We are fortunate in having Miss Katich
with us again after waiting for two years,
during which time she has been working
in the Berkeley office. She fills the vacancy
occasioned by the resignation of Miss
Mulholland. Miss Katich made a splendid
record in Berkeley, but their loss is our
gain.
"The next stop is Petaluma." Hissing
steam, grinding brakes, the train stops.
Who is that getting off the train? Why,
it is Miss Mundell. "Pleased to meet you,
Mr. Smith." Oh! we had a glorious time
over the Fourth. If that fellow in Orovilie
only knew.
Will Miss Brandt spend her vacation in
Honolulu this year? We just happened
to notice that she seems quite excited when
three or four letters arrive at the same
time.
Mrs. Beekman is busy looking for a new
home as she is tired of boarding. We hope
she is having a splendid time on her vaca-
tion.
Miss Cox spent a delightful two weeks
camping at Riverton on the Feather River.
During her absence Miss Brown very ably
filled in her place.
Mrs. Voigt is spending her vacation
away from the maddening crowds — eggs,
milk and rest, and fancy work.
To be courteous is an acquirement we
all seek. To see it in others calls forth
our admiration.
Mrs. Forkey is anticipating a big task
when the rerouting of 81,000 accounts
begins. It means that she will have to
begin all over again to memorize 81,000
numbers, but she says that is easy com-
pared to the decision as to whether she
should bob her hair or not.
16
August, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
CORPORATION YARD
Marii.la M. WiLi.iAais
Correspondent
LOUIS LESTER FARRELL is at the
. present time touring the East. The
latest news from "LL" is that he is
having a wonderful time. "Paddy" Horan.
Assistant Superintendent, is in charge of
"LL's" department and is running the
work in a proficient
manner.
Frances Douglass
(nee Matthews I Avas
helping out in the
Yard Office, but ow-
ing to ill health was
forced to give up
the work.
Frank Pretti is
now off on his vaca-
tion. Frank did not
say where he was
going, but I sup-
pose where the fish-
ing is the best.
Leave it to Frank to
catch the fish.
_ John Nelson is a new employee in the
Garage. John has taken to the work very
rapidly.
Pedro Bof says he is the happiest man
in the world. He has a nice new home on
45th Street and the best part of it all, he
says, is that it is all his own. Congratu-
lations, Pedro.
E. Miller and crew on Roller No. 2 are
kept busy keeping the streets in first-class
condition after they are cut up on account
of laying mains, services, etc., in the City
of Oakland.
C. Ziener and M. Crosby are newcomers
in the Machine Shop. Both appear to
like the work and boys in the Yard.
"Pop" Wilkins spent a pleasant vacation
at his camp in Cazadero. He reports hav-
ing a wonderful time and all, don't you
know.
J. Fracchia has taken the week off to
get married, so we hear. Congratulations,
John, and we hope you will have a very,
very happy future.
The "Bills" in the Yard (Schlenker and
Dierks) are spending a two weeks' vaca-
tion touring around Lake Tahoe. Here's
hoping you have a good time.
Jack Zimmerman has been having sev-
eral week-end trips lately up in Northern
California. Nothing like being a first-
class umpire, is there?
Frank Isoard, formerly working in the
machine shop, is now working in the
Turn-off Department. Frank says he likes
the new work very much.
Ben Carroll and family are spending
a two weeks' vacation camping in the
mountains.
The Turn-off Department is now com-
pletely decked with a new set of "Lizzies."
This enables the men to do their work in
a speedy and efficient manner.
Joe Amaral has been home sick for the
last month or so. The last report was that
Joe is improving and will be back to work
soon. G. Perrone is taking Joe's place
while he is away and is keeping things
looking spic and span around the "Yard.
C. Manolin is a new addition to the
Yard.
Emil Esola has returned to the employ
of the Company. He has charge of install-
ing one of the large mains and says he sure
likes being back among his old associates.
L. Sherman is a new helper in the
Blacksmith Shop, taking the place of
Nick Hebeisn, who has charge of a crew
of men on the outside.
Foreman Ed McKinney surely has been
keeping things in "high" around the ^ ard.
Leave it to Ed when you want things done
in a hurry.
Joe DeMello, formerly of the 16th
Street Office, is now working in the Meter
Shop at the Yard. We know Joe will like
the "bunch" and will fall into the work
very quickly.
Harry Agnew has a brand new Buick.
Congratulations, Harry.
Charley Maleton and crew are still on
deck doing A-l work on repairing streets
in the City of Berkeley.
J. Sutherland Stevens was on the sick
list for a while recently. "J. S." has now
fully recovered and is back on the job
again.
W. Parker, Meter Repair Man. was
forced to leave work for a month or so
on account of ill health.
"Art" Sparrow, Machinist, is what a
person would call an "all-around-man."
He fits into any job that comes along and
does the work in a speedy and efficient
manner.
17
August. 1922
'BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
BERKELEY DISTRICT
Harry B. Kxowles
Correspondent
NEW services have become the order
of the day, according to Miss Edna
Higgins' way of thinking. She
wants to know if all of the Eastern tour-
ists are buying and building in Berkelev.
Mention must be made of little Miss
Corv. who was not
listed in the "com-
ing out" column of
the last issue of
Bubbles,, for reason
that Miss Florence
Cory was tempo-
rarilv "fitting in" to
help out in the
rush of increased
business. We are
pleased to say she
is now considered
permanentlv e n-
gaged, "to her
work." Efficiency is
the reason.
This office has
lost a mighty fine worker and the Oakland
Billing Department has gained what we
term a "model of efficiency" in Miss Anna
Katich. In this transfer. John, you are to
be congratulated, but let us whisper.
"W atch her ring finger"; you know what's
happened to Miss Mulholland. Anyhow,
we are sorry to lose you, Anna.
"Pocket Edition" \ irginia Clark says
her domestic science was woefully neg-
lected in her school days, so she is going
to tell mother she does not need to pack
her lunch when the new office gas range
gets into action. She claims a "mean
movement" to her elbow when it comes to
beating up eggs for a noonday snack.
What we've got to say is this, Virginia,
there is a medicine cabinet full of all sorts
of stuff for indigestion and dyspepsia, etc.
Miss Florence Bryant has returned from
an exciting vacation, to say the least.
Exciting for her, we'll say. While up to
Monte Rio she tried her hand at deep sea
diving, but forgot to come up for air until
one of the local '49'ers yanked her ashore.
Florence says when she "came to" and
found her hero wore chin whiskers a foot
long, she av anted to lapse right off into
dreamland again. She emphatically states
she's "off" from men for life — but we've
heard that before.
Miss Hooper remarks her pleasure in
moving into the new office, by stating that
even if she has only a block or two to go
home for lunch, now that the up-to-date
kitchen equipment and homelike appoint-
ment of the ladies' rest room has taken
away the desire to run home to "heat up"
a bite, she is seriously considering moving
her trunk to the office. Hazel, let us re-
mark also, the Company intended to create
that "homey" feeling by fitting up comfy-
like the rest room for you girls.
July 3, 1922, was the big opening day for
the new Berkeley District business office.
"Beautiful, yet with artistic dignity," was
the comment of one of Berkeley's big busi-
ness men, when voicing his opinion of our
new office. He further opined that, in his
estimation, Berkeley should give a hearty
vote of thanks to the East Bay Water
Company for showing its willingness to
materially help in improving Berkeley's
business section by its handsome enlarged
business office.
The new 16-inch main from Summit
Reservoir is almost ready "to shoot" the
much needed volume of water to supply
the hillside area of Berkeley. This beau-
tiful residential section is increasing in
population and with new homes springing
up so rapidly this improvement of water
supply not only is a necessity, but from
the comments of the "hillsiders" it's a
feather in the cap of the Company. The
people of Berkeley are fast realizing that
our Company is in hearty accord with a
program of co-operation to assist in the
building of a progressive community and
is always more than willing to help
toward doing its bit.
Harriet Hodgkinson is now regularly
and permanently attached to the Berkeley
business office force — as she is a new-
comer to most of us, she is not a new face
among the older members of our gang.
You see, Harriet used to be a fixture and
a good one, too — so says the book — in the
old Berkeley office a few years ago.
Harriet, we welcome you with open
arms — that is, the girls do. We'll stand
on the side lines and give you a "Smile of
Welcome."
18
August, 1922
BUBBLE S
East Bav Water Co.
ALAMEDA DISTRICT
IT is expected that the work in laying
out the Thompson Tract will be com-
pleted at an early date. All water
mains have been laid, and the street work
is under way, so all that remains to be
done is the setting out of the parking.
The lots in this
tract should go like
hotcakes, so any
employee thinking
of setting up house-
keeping should see
the Land Agent be-
fore the choice loca-
tions are all taken.
Nick Solari, who
has charge of lay-
ing all mains in the
Company's n e w
tract, says that he is
going to pick him-
Geo. A. McKeas self the best lot in
Correspondent the tract and build
a little home. That's the right spirit,
Nick, and we hope you enjoy a long life
and a merry one.
Repairs to our line across the estuary
at Park Street are being made under the
supervision of Fred Klaus, Assistant Chief
Engineer. It is very difficult to locate
trouble on this line, as the pipe is sub-
merged. However, with the assistance of
a professional diver the leaks were located,
and joints are now being caulked.
Mr. James Finch has just returned from
his summer outing, having spent most of
the time with his family in the Big Basin
country. James has his machine all
equipped for these camping tours, and
enjoys nothing better than this free and
easy gypsy life.
Miss Thelma Nordlund spent a delight-
ful vacation along the Russian River. She
reports the river to be particularly fine
this year, the boating and swimming being
the best ever. However, one should be a
little cautious of this fresh water tan. as
it has been known to cause first degree
freckles instead of that wonderful mahog-
anv effect so popular with the summer
girls.
Miss Arvilla Daniels assisted in the
office work during the vacation period.
Arvilla proved herself a thorough little
clerk, having had previous experience in
the Oakland Office.
RICHMOND DISTRICT
ALGLST first was the opening of the
deer season, and while we have not
heard any one around this office say
thev were going to make any killings, we
have noticed a dear hunter around here
once in a while. Nough-sed.
Miss Rita Arnold
returned from her
vacation Wednes-
day, July 26th, re-
porting a wonderful
time spent at Capi-
tola, near Santa
Cruz; she says the
ocean breeze down
there is fine, water
warm and fish as
big as elephants.
Complexion would
indicate that the
first two items are
correct, but we do c. E. Clark
not vouch for the Correspondent
fish statement. However, we do believe
there are fish down there.
Mrs. Julia La Franz returned from her
vacation on Monday, June 26th, reporting
the best time ever. Mrs. Marie Williams of
Nevada, a sister of Julia, came for a visit;
Julia timed her vacation to take place dur-
ing this visit as she had not seen her sister
for several years. The two sisters, with two
younger sisters, spent the entire two weeks
with their father and mother on their
ranch at Valley Home, near Modesto, and
her report is as follows: We went hiking,
joy riding, fishing, swimming and got
mosquito bitten; had all the fresh milk we
could drink, cream on fresh berries bv the
oh
say it was just
bushel, and fruit,
grand.
We know that these vacations are some-
thing to be long remembered and from the
little sketches told from time to time since
their return and the good rest enjoyed is
evidenced in the way work is going along
in this office.
Mr. 0. Butler, who was in Superinten-
dent Farrell's department at the Corpora-
tion Yard, has been transferred to the
Richmond District to fill the vacancy
made by Mr. Rihn. Butler says he likes
the people out here and as soon as he
learns where some of these streets begin
and end he will have no trouble.
19
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
FROM THE BEGINNING
By S. M. Marks, Secretary-Treasurer.
S. M. Marks
THE history, or even the story, of
water works' promotion and devel-
opment on this side of San Fran-
cisco Bay, is a task reserved for one who
will commit himself to the production of
a complete work from the mass of material
at hand and from that stored but not yet
uncovered.
The space allot-
ted in this issue
permits of no more
than a brief review
of the principal
facts touching the
earlier period of
this important sub-
ject as related to
the City of Oakland.
April 29, 1854,
Mayor Capentier, in
a message to the
City Council of
Oakland, expressed
his regrets that the
charter failed of authority to erect water
works and bring water to the city from
available nearby streams. Because of this
impediment and the ease by which sup-
plies could be obtained from wells
throughout the city, then principally con-
fined to the zone about the estuary, more
than a decade elapsed before the first
water works were established in Oakland.
It was in 1866 that Anthony Chabot
organized the Contra Costa Water Com-
pany, his brother, Remi Chabot, and
Henry Pierce being his associates. Mr.
Anthony Chabot had built ditches and
furnished water for mining operations in
the early days of California, and with
John Bensley and A. W. Von Schmidt
created San Francisco's first large supply,
that of Lobos Creek. A biography of this
enterprising engineer and useful citizen
would afford interesting and instructive
lessons relative to community building.
On July 18, 1866, the City Council of
Oakland, by ordinance, granted to the
Contra Costa Water Company the right to
lay pipes in the city's streets, alleys and
lanes, which privilege was also granted to
Oakland and Alameda Water Company,
concurrently organized, but never in active
operation.
The Contra Costa Water Company's first
consumers were supplied in 1867. The
water was brought direct from Temescal
Creek. In 1868 work was begun on the
Temescal dam, which was completed late
in 1869. In his message of April, 1869,
Mayor Merritt stated that 39,758 feet of
pipe had been laid; also that the company
was constructing a large reservoir in the
coast range of mountains about four miles
from the city, which, when finished, would
hold not less than 200 million gallons.
It soon became apparent to Mr. Chabot
that an additional supply would be re-
quired by the growing city and he accord-
ingly planned to acquire water rights on
San Leandro Creek. At this juncture the
idea of public ownership appeared and at
a meeting of the City Council on Decem-
ber 22, 1873, a committee was appointed
to investigate the subject. In its report
of January 19, 1874, the committee covered
three sources: that of the San Francisco
and Oakland Water Company, from Cala-
veras Creek, thirty-eight miles from the
city; a location made by Charles Felton
and others "at a place called Sunol"; and
the Contra Costa Water Company's com-
pleted and contemplated works, including
the San Leandro project, which, it was
stated, "are capable of furnishing a daily
supply of thirty or forty million gallons"
and "will supply a population of 500,000."
The report concluded with the opinion that
the time had arrived to secure a public
supply which would meet all demands,
present and future, and that in view of
the facts and figures collated, it was the
only course to be pursued in the interests
of economy and self-protection and in
justice to posterity. That the committee
lacked neither vision nor grace of ex-
pression is apparent from the closing
lines: "When this very desirable acquisi-
tion shall have been attained, our city may
challenge any other on the Pacific Coast
for its felicitous attractions to the outside
world and make it what it should be, the
star city of the Pacific." The interest in
this subject led to the appointment of a
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
GRAPHIC HI!
Showing Development and Transition Stag
to je
Eastbay Communities and lift
east bay mm
Incorporated, It «nber
To Supply Water to Ar^
Contra Ci
Principal Developmen
consisting of
liti
few
nda 12M.G.D. -,iS-
PEOPLES WATER COMPANY
Incorporated, August 30, 1906
Acquired Three Existing Companies and Made Extensive
Developments, to- wit: Ground Water Supply at Alva-
rado, San Pablo No. 2 Well Field, Central Reservoir,
Twenty-fourth Avenue Pump Plant, Diamond Pump
Plant, Rose Street Pump Plant. Installed 380 Miles of
Pipe, 30,800 Taps and 47,000 Meters. Sold to E. S.
Heller November 29, 1916, and Conveyed by Him to
East Bay Water Company, January 25, 1917.
SYNDICATE WATER COMPANY
Incorporated, January 29, 1906
Supplied Water to Piedmont and
Claremont Districts
Purchased Entire Stock of Richmond Water
Company and Developed Additional Wells
in the Town of San Pablo. Conveyed to
Peoples Water Company, January 2, 1907.
CONTRA COSTAil
Incorporated, ? gut 3(
For the Purpose ol .jplra
Towns of Alameda runty B
First Water Supply It use h
Creek in 1867. TiaaiDi
pleted in 1869, EU. u'irr '
land's First Water ityrj
Peoples Water CoijL, Jw
ALVARADO ARTESIAN
WATER COMPANY
Incorporated, June 27, 1893
Drilled 15 Wells
Constructed a Pumping Station
and a 16-Inch Line to San Lean-
dro, Connecting With the Con-
tra Costa Water Company
Main. Conveyed to Contra
Costa Water Company, Decem-
ber 31, 1905.
OAKLAND
WATER COMPANY
Incorporated, December 15, 1893
Developed Alvarado Well Field
and Supplied Oakland in Com-
petition to Contra Costa Water
Company. Conveyed to Con-
tra Costa Water Company, May
15, 1899.
ALAMEDA ARTESIAN
WATER COMPANY
Incorporated, November 15, 1899
Acquired Water Works of R. R.
Thompson, February 1, 1900
Conveyed to Contra Costa Water
Company, March 14, 1900
EAST I
WATER ill
Incorporated, JuiyE
Conveyed to CtnCai
Company, J=i «iy 29,
PIEDMONT SPRINGS
POWER AND WATER COMPANY
Incorporated, August 20, 1891
Developed Tunnels and R-
to Supply Piedmont
Conveyed to Oakland Water C
pany, January, 1894
R. R. THOMPSON
First Supplied City of Alameda
From Wells Located at Santa
Clara Avenue and Park Street,
Alameda. In 1886 and 1888
Drilled the Damon and Fitch-
burg Wells to Supply Alameda.
Conveyed to Alameda Artesian
Water Company, November 1,
1900.
ALAIIDA
WATER k
Incorporated, lNi abg ]
To Supply Wat
Other Cities
Francisco Ba;
to Supply V
w
a to B
i Cord or Crttj
veyedtoEast
pany, Noverc
October. 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
(HISTORY
of Utilities That Have Supplied Water
dmately Merging Into the
I ER COMPANY
■: ' mber 13, 1916
erritory in Alameda and
Counties
w*|The San Pablo Project,
illion-Gallon Reservoir
D. Id Sand Filtration Plant
UNION WATER COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA
Incorporated, December 2, 1910
UNION WATER DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
Incorporated September, 1916
Operated Well Field* and Supplied Portion* of Newark,
San Leandro, Oakland and Richmond
Conveyed to East Bay Water Company, October 27, 1921
TER COMPANY
■:. ust 30, 1906
of pplying Cities and
di mty With Water.
ne From Temescal
T( cal Dam Was Com-
Est ihing Date of Oak-
ply. Conveyed to
Con y, January 2, 1907.
RICHMOND WATER COMPANY
Incorporated, November 7, 1900
For the Purpose of Supplying Richmond With
Water From a Well Supply
Conveyed to Peoples Water Company
January 2, 1907
il [ORE
ER IPANY
«l,Jary23, 1900
,C<t Costa Water
rjary 29, 1906
SAUSAL
WATER COMPANY
Incorporated, May 11, 1869
To Supply Water to the City of
Oakland From Sausal Creek
Conveyed to Contra Costa Water
Company, January, 1894
CALIFORNIA
WATER COMPANY
Incorporated, August 14, 1873
Acquired Riparian Rights Fron
Present San Leandro Dam t<
Tidewater.
Conveyed to Contra Costa Wate
Company, May 18, 1876
OAKLAND AND ALAMEDA
WATER COMPANY
Incorporated, September 25, 1865
For the Purpose of Supplying Oak-
land From Temescal Creek
Conveyed to Contra Costa Water
Company, March 13, 1868
IPANY
Jttiber 10, 1873
{fill Oakland and
acent to San
Bay irst Company
, ft to Berkeley
^cc Creek. Con-
jat! e Water Com-
-ad K>, 1907.
BERKELEY
WATER WORKS COMPANY
Incorporated, October 31, 1876
Conveyed to Alameda Water Com,-
pany, August 18, 1884
BERKELEY REAL ESTATE AND
WATER WORKS COMPANY
Incorporated, November 5, 1875
Conveyed to Berkeley Water Com-
pany, November 14, 1876
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
committee in January, 1874, composed of
three members of the Council who, with
the city engineer and city attorney, were
directed to draft a legislative enactment
by which the city would be enabled to
issue bonds for the purpose of acquiring
water works.
A few months after, the Council received
a communication from Mr. Chabot offering
the Contra Costa Water Company's works
and property at a valuation to be fixed
by commissioners and proposing alterna-
tive plans for payment — the company to
receive in part payment bonds of the City
of Oakland bearing interest at eight per
cent per annum; or the city to lend its
credit to the company in bonds or other-
wise to complete the San Leandro project
on the security of the company's property
and its agreement to pay principal and
interest as these matured; all subject to
an option to acquire the works at the end
of ten years from the date of the transac-
tion at the commissioners' valuation less
the amount loaned by the city. The Coun-
cil's auditing and finance committee, to
which the communication was referred on
March 9, 1874, recommended a statute
whereby the city would be permitted to
aid the Contra Costa Water Company to
complete its project. The act, as adopted
by the legislature, provided that the city
might exercise the right of eminent do-
main by taking for the use of Oakland and
adjacent towns the waters of any flowing
stream or lake, artificial reservoirs, or
sites for the construction of dams within
the County of Alameda. The statute also
provided for a managing board of public
works to be appointed by the Governor
for a term of four years, and defined the
duties of the board.
Despite the Council's excellent inten-
tions this movement came to naught and
caused Mayor Webber to say in his message
of February 20, 1876, that the Board of
Public Works appointed by the Governor
had not accomplished anything decisive
and that in his opinion nothing would re-
sult from a continuation of this body under
the then existing law; also that the effort
made to obtain a selling figure from the
Contra Costa Water Company had been
fruitless. He added that the company's
San Leandro dam and artificial lake now
supplied Oakland with an abundance of
water and that the policy of the company
met with satisfaction; but gave it as a
sound principle in municipal government
that every city should own the water sup-
ply upon which it is dependent.
With the completion of the San Leandro
project the water agitation subsided. Few
additions appear to have been made by the
company to the company's supplies in
the ensuing five years, the exception being
two artesian wells on Oakland Creek,
which, however, were pumped solely in an
exigency.
Economic principles as applied both to
protection and to avoidance of duplica-
tion of investments do not appear to have
been recognized at this early date, since
it appears that the Lake Tahoe and San
Francisco Water Works Company was
granted the right, in 1872, to lay pipes
throughout Oakland, while a like privi-
lege had again been given the Oakland and
Alameda Water Company in October,
1877.
Passing the few intervening years, which
seem to have been restful, we arrive at the
year 1881, in which the Contra Costa Water
Company submitted its first report to the
City Council of Oakland, conformably
with an act of the legislature providing
for full annual reports by public service
corporations to the respective municipali-
ties in which these operated. Briefly, the
reports show that to the end of 1881 the
total cost of the company's works was
$3,961,644.45; gross receipts for 1877,
$175,802.38; 1878, $191,026.53; 1879,
$204,600.49; 1880, $206,065.45; 1881,
$212,620.24; number of "rate-payers,"
December 31, 1881, 4636.
By 1883 the company had 133 miles
of mains in Oakland, East Oakland and
"Oakland Valley." In this year (1883)
it had 5638 consumers, with an average
daily use of seven million gallons, which
by the application of the ordinary rule
shows the extraordinary daily consump-
tion of 244 gallons per capita.
In 1885, $249,347.78 was collected for
water rents. A report rendered the City
Council in 1886, as prepared by J. D.
Schuyler, C. E., following a physical
valuation of the Contra Costa Water Com-
pany's plant, displayed a total of
$3,194,609.24 as an "estimate of the prob-
able cost of the works."
Following the death of Mr. Anthony
Chabot in 1888, Mr. Henry Pierce was
October, 1922
"BUBBLES'
East Bay Water Co.
elected president of the Contra Costa
Water Company. A report, following an
examination of the company's properties
by a board of engineers, declared all to
be in exemplary condition and paid trib-
ute both to Mr. Chabot's accomplishments
and his carefully worked out plans for
future developments.
Two years later the quality of the water
supplied became the subject of comment
in the City of Oakland. This was pro-
longed and not rendered less active
through the attitude of one of the daily
papers. The agitation led to a mass meet-
ing of citizens held in the Oakland The-
ater, February 24, 1890, at which the
action of the councilmen who had voted
for a continuance of the existing water
rates was condemned. One week later,
the date for final passage of the water
rate ordinance, an assemblage of about
five thousand held in city hall park passed
and submitted to the City Council, then
in session, a resolution requesting this
body to "immediately rescind" its pre-
vious action. The Council ordered the
resolution received and placed on file, but
it does not appear that the matter had any
further consideration.
However, a "Committee of One Hun-
dred," appointed by the first mass meet-
ing maintained its organization and in-
vestigated the whole question of ways and
means to secure "an adequate and agree-
able supply of water."
The Committee list printed March 6,
1890, gave the names of a number of
prominent citizens. Several reports were
published and on March 11, 1890, the
Committee recommended the acquisition
by the city of a publicly owned water
system.
It seems that the Contra Costa Water
Company by letter now gave specific prom-
ises of improvement in conditions, which
were verified by the installation in 1890 of
modern filtration plants both at Lake San
Leandro and Lake Temescal. In April,
1890, ground was broken for a 100,000,000
gallon settling basin at Highland Park,
Oakland, to cost $350,000, but beyond
this token nothing was accomplished.
Oakland was growing; the future was
promising; more live men were injecting
themselves into the affairs of the city;
improvement was apparent in all direc-
tions following bettered means of trans-
portation and increased confidence in the
future by appreciation of advantages for
industrial locations. This, added to the
water supply agitation, which had not
ceased, brought new figures into the field
of water development. W. B. Farwell
caused the Alvarado wells to become the
object of consideration; William J.
Dingee began his Piedmont hills develop-
ment.
It was at this time that a survey was
made of the Alvarado situation with a view
to the utilization of these wells as a source
of supply. Forty flowing wells, from which
ten million gallons flowed to waste every
twenty-four hours, were said to be avail-
able for Oakland's use and Mr. Farwell
proposed that the property upon which
the wells were located should be con-
demned accordingly.
In 1892 Mr. Farwell undertook the de-
velopment of the Alvarado wells on his
own account. It appears that one of these
known as the "glue factory well" was
bought and that it was announced that the
boring of other wells would be begun
immediately with the object of bringing
the product to the city line and there
disposing of it in bulk.
Mr. William J. Dingee as a competitor
to the Contra Costa Water Company an-
nounced in March, 1893, the intention of
himself and associates to develop water in
quantities sufficient to supply the entire
needs of the city, both present and future.
Mr. Dingee's attention having been attract-
ed to the Alvarado possibilities, he ac-
quired the Granger Tract west of Alvarado,
upon which the most desirable of the wells
were located. This purchase caused Mr.
Farwell to bring an action to set aside the
sale by Granger to Dingee on the ground
that it was contrary to certain agreements
with the former. The courts sustained Mr.
Farwell's contention. Mr. Dingee then
appealed the case, continued to develop
the wells and announced in April, 1893,
that he had made a further purchase of
three hundred and sixty-eight acres of
proven water bearing Alvarado land
known as the Poorman Tract.
To "An Account of Water and Water Companies,
Oakland. 1910," by Mr. Harry A. Lafler, we are in-
debted for much material used in this article.
(To be continued)
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
THE PUMPING SYSTEM OF THE
EAST BAY WATER COMPANY
By Harry Reinhardt, Assistant Chief Engineer.
THE district on the east side of San
Francisco Bay served by the East
Bay Water Company extends from
the town of Alvarado on the south to
Richmond on the north, from the Bay on
the west to the skyline on the east, and
from sea level to eleven hundred and fifty
feet of elevation. A
territory like this,
with all of the im-
portant sources of
supply either at sea
level or at best 240
feet above sea level,
must depend largely
upon pumping for
the distribution of
its water supply.
Practically all of
the water coming
from the south, that
is, San Leandro
Lake and Alvarado
and Roberts wells, Harry Reinhardt
must be boosted into Central Reservoir in
order to obtain sufficient head to serve the
downtown districts. The water coming
from the north, that is, San Pablo Lake,
has sufficient head to practically balance
on Central Reservoir, and only that por-
tion that is used in the higher levels is
boosted. Of all the water served in this
community, less than twenty-five per cent
is served without pumping.
In former years when the residential dis-
tricts were sparsely settled, the general
practice of this Company was to install
triplex pumps for booster service, but as
these districts built up, the residents began
complaining about noise. It is a fact that
the old residents never complained. Time
and again they have told us that the noise
was not objectionable, and that they
actually missed it when the pump was
closed down. However, new residents take
a different stand. They know the pump is
there before they build, but they do not
become noticeably aware of its presence
until they move into their new home.
Then it becomes their one object in life
to move us out! Unfortunately for both
of us, we can't just get up and move to
another location, so we must do all we can
to eliminate the noise. Our policy has
been, where conditions warrant, to install
centrifugal pumps. This change in nearly
every instance has satisfied the people who
made the complaints, but for our part has
not only caused us the expense of new
equipment, but has increased our power
bill noticeably. There are now only six
triplex booster units left in the system.
If the Eastbay district were of a uni-
formly sloping character with gradual rise
from sea level to the skyline, boosting
could be handled in easy stages with good
working pressures. This, however, is not
the case, and it has been our experience
that in order to supply consumers with
moderate pressures, we must have an
extremely complicated system of pump-
ing. Some consumers must take water at
pressures sometimes in excess of one
hundred pounds per square inch, in dis-
tricts where the population is too scattered
to warrant large expenditures on pressure
zones. We are now boosting water at one
hundred feet in our lowest head plant and
six hundred and thirty feet in our highest
head plant. The average head is between
two hundred and three hundred feet.
The capacities of these booster plants
range in size from a few thousand gallons
per day to twenty-four million gallons per
day, the largest one having 3 eight
million gallon steam driven units, of the
horizontal cross compound opposed type.
There are now three steam plants in the
system, all having horizontal cross com-
pound engines, Rose Street booster at
Berkeley having two units rated at two
million gallons daily each; Alvarado well
field plant two units rated at four and one-
half million gallons daily each, and our
Twenty-fourth Avenue plant three units
rated at eight million gallons daily each.
Notable among our electric driven cen-
trifugal booster plants are San Lorenzo,
with four units each rated at twenty-two
hundred and fifty gallons per minute;
Fortieth Street, with four units rated at
fifteen hundred gallons per minute each,
8
October. 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
and the new East Twenty-ninth Avenue
plant which will ultimately have four units
rated at fourteen hundred gallons per min-
ute each.
A water system delivering continuous
service must either have sufficient pumping
capacitv to handle peak loads, with addi-
tional units to throw into service in case of
breakdowns, or storage ample to serve the
same purpose. With large storage located
at vantage points, the East Bay System can
operate with a minimum of spare units, for
it is always possible in case of a break-
down in some of the machinery, to draw
water down from some of the large reser-
voirs located at higher elevations while
repairs are being made.
The East Bay Water Company is now
operating 30 pumping stations, 3 of which
are steam driven and 27 are electric driven.
An average of the daily pumping reports
shows a daily pumpage of 33.8 million
gallons, with a maximum of 41.0 and a
minimum of 26.8. This is not surprising
when it is seen that in some instances the
water is pumped as much as seven times
before it reaches the consumers.
During the years this Company has been
in operation considerable attention has
been given to the different methods of
pumping wells. The first step after wells
ceased to flow was the installation of low
lift centrifugal pumps, and this was very
satisfactory, the pump being placed below
the surface of the ground and the wells
tapped in such a manner that the water
flowed to the pump. As long as the water
flowed to the pump no trouble was experi-
enced, but as soon as the pump began
creating a vacuum on these flow lines there
was no end of trouble and the system was
discontinued. In one instance some eighty
wells were connected directly to the suc-
tion of a three million gallon steam pump-
ing engine and operated very satisfactorily
until the suction lift became so great that
the system was taken out of use until new
and deeper wells could be drilled. As the
water still stood too low in the new wells.
deep well pumps were put into service.
Following this direct method of pump-
ing some of the wells were agitated with
compressed air for a period of years, but
as the water level lowered, this method
became extravagant and it was necessary to
pipe each well with scientifically propor-
tioned pipes in order that the best results
could be obtained. This work once satis-
factorily accomplished gives a pumping
installation that can be operated with the
minimum of attention.
Deep well pumps of nearly every de-
scription and make have been used in the
past, and some are still being used. It is
not the purpose of this article to discuss
the merits of any particular type of pump
because our experience would not neces-
sarily apply to a general case. However,
it would not be out of place to say that for
small capacity wells we use the deep well
cylinder and sucker rods with both single
acting and double acting heads, and for
large capacity wells we use both the air
lift system and the deep well turbine.
We feel that each pumping system has
its place, and if sufficient study and thought
can be given to each installation as it goes
in, the results will be satisfactory, but only
for as long as conditions remain about
the same as when the installation went into
operation. Extreme changes of water level,
casing troubles, sand troubles and the like
may only develop after years of operation
and if they develop slowly enough there
may be sufficient time to meet the condi-
tions economically as they arise. Too
often, however, emergency work must be
done which results in no end of trouble
and expense.
The pumping department has one crew
of six men with two automobiles who do
all repair work to wells and machinery,
and in addition do nearly all of the erect-
ing of new machinery. There are five dis-
tricts where the operators have more than
one plant to care for and the Company
supplies automobiles for this service.
The recent tendency of the pumping de-
partment has been toward the installation
of automatic pumping stations where pos-
sible, and where it is not either possible or
advisable to have an automatic station, we
have often found that we could have one
crew of operators, say three men, take care
of a number of stations by supplying them
transportation.
The regular employees in all the plants
are relieved regularly on definite days
every week, either by a man who shifts
from plant to plant, or by swing men
employed in the plant. In this way the
men can plan on what day they will be off.
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
— k
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
IC DIAGRAM
OMPANY SYSTEM
an )j»tribution Reservoirs with elevations and capacities
SHEPARD
ANYON SUPPLY
843 Elev. of Intake
800
PIEDMONT
ESERVOIR No. 2
0.078 M.G.
03 Elev. Top
- Bottom
•1EDMONT
ERVOIR Nc
a M.C. r^-1
. Top 1—1
. Bottoi
L>CH
THORNH1LL BOOSTER
- I TITUS RECE1VI
X, 0.020 M.C.
. , [J 578 Elev. Top
Elev. Bottom 704
-'
1ESCAL LAKE
1.000 M.G.
' Elev. Top
027 M.G.
t Elev. Top
S3 Elev. Botto.
mW
rO
A
CENTRAL
RESERVOIR
158.149 M.G.
202 Elev. Top
1-18 Flvv Bottor
PLEASANT VALLEY
2-0.504 M.G.D. Elec. Pump.
39TH AVE. RESERVOIR
10.725 M.G.
430 Elev. Top
407 Elev. Bottom
Took— 0.100 M.G.
500
400
th
EAST 29TH STREET
BOOSTER
3-2.0O0 M.C.D. Pump.
TOLER No. 1
1 400 M.G.D. Elec. Pump
Tank-0.200 M.C. -
ev. Top 137 S\.
ev.Bofom'na f-|_P
Took— 0.200 M.C.
Elev. Top 343
SAN LEANDRO LAKE
5,000.000 M.G.
SAN LEANDRO FILTERS
171 Elev. Top .
_ZLf
200
92ND AVENUE
1 1.500 M.G.D. Elee.Pum
j Well Elec. Pump.
24th AVE. BOOSTER
3—8 M.C.D. Steam Pum[
175 Ft. Lid
2-1.008 M.C.D. Ele.
14 Deep Well FJei. Pl
263 Ft. Lid
1 2.500 M.G.D. Elec. Pump
1 0.930 M.C.D. Elec. Pump
1 0.535 M.C.D. Elec. Pump
25 Deep Well Elec. Plunger Pu
Lid 139 Ft.
2 0.250 M.C. Tank.
JONES AVENUE
1 0.750 M.C.D. Elec. Pu
33 Well. Deep Well Plun
Elec. Pump
SAN LORENZO
1 2.500 M.G.D. Elec. Pump
11
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
12
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSMISSION OF WATER BY THE
EAST BAY WATER COMPANY
By F. J. Klaus, Assistant Chief Engineer.
DISTRIBUTING the domestic water
supply to the cities and towns on
the east shore of San Francisco Bay
offers many complex problems. The ter-
ritory served lies between the bay shore
and the upper reaches of the hills lying
to the north and east. It forms a rather
narrow strip rang-
ing from less than
one to about six
miles in width and
is approximately 30
miles long. The ele-
vation varies be-
tween sea level and
1150 feet, which
condition o ff e r s
many difficulties to
distribution. Added
to this we have a
most troublesome
feature : the entire
length of the terri-
tory is cut trans-
Klaus
versely by many small valleys or canyons.
The latter are so deep, comparatively
speaking, that the same service cannot
safely be used in the valleys as on the
adjacent hills. A contour map of the
section displays many irregularities in
elevations which are not at all noticeable
to the average observer, and explains the
cause of a great many of our problems.
This condition in the topography necessi-
tates the use of small and very irregular
pressure zones. These in turn demand the
use of many storage reservoirs and a com-
plicated system of transmission piping.
The Eastbay territory served by this
Company is now divided into twenty-seven
pressure zones, each having separate dis-
tribution reservoirs and in many cases
separate transmission lines. In some cases
transmission lines extend through several
zones in which water, under the pressure
carried, may not be served, in order
that it may serve a zone at a much
higher elevation. The great range in
elevation reached in the few miles of
width of service tends to make zoning
frequent and causes lines of low and high
pressure to fall at close intervals. This
fact gives rise to many complaints from
consumers who invariably desire the high
pressure served their neighbor, if they are
being served the low pressure. The lines
of demarkation are so frequent that the
consumer cannot understand the neces-
sity for the variation of service. The effect
of this zoning also creates dead end lines,
and these being collectors of sediment and
bad water, must be regularly cared for.
The distribution system of the Company
was installed by some seventeen separate
and independent companies, each having
designed and built to serve portions only
of the territory as it now stands. This
practice naturally produces many bad
features, and has in the past added much
expense in the way of new transmission
lines.
The principal sources of supply are
below the 240-foot elevation. About one-
half of the gridiron lies above, this height,
so a large proportion of the water is hand-
led by pumps. The more desirable
residential sections are all above the
sources, and are supplied entirely by
pumping. The trend of home building in
the Eastbay cities is upward, that is,
toward the hilltops. Property high on the
hillside which ten years ago was consid-
ered useful only for pasture land, is now
deemed the most desirable homesites.
New transmission lines, as well as dis-
tribution mains, are now being installed
near the hilltops and will in the future
have to be carried to greater elevations.
One line which we have lately com-
pleted reached no point below the 700-
foot contour. Rapid expansion in all
directions gives rise to more and larger
distribution reservoirs. This both for the
purpose of increasing supply in case of
failure of pumping plant equipment, and
decreasing in effect the lengths of present
lines.
The locating of reservoirs and pumping
stations within the residential sections is
always objectionable, but necessary. This
objection we are endeavoring to overcome
by beautifying both structures and
grounds. Pumping stations are being
made as sound proof as possible and the
architecture is made to conform with the
surrounding structures. Reservoir roofs
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
are designed to be sightly and the sur-
rounding grounds are being parked by
capable landscape engineers.
Water is distributed by this Company
under pressure ranging from 30 to 125
pounds. In a few cases both higher and
lower pressure are served, but such in-
stances are relieved as rapidly as possible.
Excessive daily draft in small isolated
zones is a problem which we have not
entirely overcome. Reservoirs of large
capacity cannot be built to serve small
areas, nor can large pumping plant equip-
ment be installed. Within the last few
years mechanical pressure regulators have
been used for this purpose, feeding water
from a high zone containing a large res-
ervoir into lower zones having small stor-
age. The low side of the regulators are
set to open when the pressure in the lower
zone drops below normal due to excess
draft. The regulators used have proven
effective and not at all troublesome. The
better makes can now be relied upon to
perform satisfactorily. The use of this
system of course means the pumping of
water to points higher than the zone in
which the water is used and is not good
practice except in covering peak demands.
Satisfactory distribution of water is
largely dependent upon the class of con-
sumers served. Service considered good
by one class is considered entirely inade-
quate by others. In general it is our prac-
tice to regulate the service as far as pos-
sible to meet the needs and desires of our
patrons and not to adhere to a standard
pressure scale. Many new mechanical
household appliances are continually be-
ing placed on the market, which demand
certain pressures and flows to properly
operate. As these are being taken up by
the public we are forced, in our endeavor
to give good service, to change our equip-
ment and pressure.
The rapid changes taking place in our
cities in the matter of home and factory
building means much to us in necessary
changes in both transmission and distribu-
tion lines. The centers of heavy draft are
continually changing, involving suitable
changes by us in our equipment. In cities
which are making such rapid growth it is
almost impossible to follow this growth
and maintain good distribution service.
One can only guess to what extent any
certain territory may expand. All equip-
ment installed must be capable of rapid
substitutions. We have seen slow growth
start in many parts of our service, be
maintained for a long time, then suddenly
flare up and grow beyond all expectation.
Other sections for reasons unknown have
started strongly, slowly died and have
never recovered. To the operating engi-
neer both cases in the beginning present
the same problem. To his judgment is
dependent the spending wisely of money,
and in cases as above his judgment can
only be based on a guess.
Under conditions as existing in these
Eastbay cities, we construct our systems to
cover the promising home building sec-
tions as cheaply as possible, with the idea
in mind that we can after a period of a
few years rebuild the proven territory in
a manner suitable for adequate service.
By building cheaply, I mean as inex-
pensively and economically as possible.
We install a piping system that has little
excess capacity. The use of sheet iron
pipe in place of cast iron, the breaking of
pressure by wood tank instead of finished
reservoirs or standpipe are features.
This treatment or method has proven
economically sound after many tests made
during the last fifteen years.
We have in the Eastbay cities a peak
load condition quite unusual, due to the
fact that we have a rather cool and damp
climate. Here it is usually necessary to
regularly sprinkle lawns and flowers about
twice a week to maintain a moist condition
in the soil and the plant life in good con-
dition. The ordinary daily peak load is
about twice normal draft and is caused by
this demand. However, we are visited
each year by very hot weather for a period
of from one to three days. It is then, due
to the fact that we are not accustomed to
heat, the demand for water goes beyond
all expectation. It is not economically
possible to build the system so as to care
for such a demand lasting so little time.
Nevertheless the failure of service at such
times brings forth a considerable amount
of criticism, just or unjust.
Our climatic conditions have relieved us
of some distribution problems which other
communities encounter. We are rarely
troubled with ice or frozen water lines, do
not have to lay our mains at great depths,
or protect meters and hydrants from
exposure to temperature changes.
14
October, 1922
BUBBLES'
East Bay Water Co.
15
1 Alvarado Wells and Pump Station
2 San Lorenzo Booster Station
3 Roberts Wells and Pump Station
4 San Leandro Lake
5 San Leandro Filters
6 Toler Booster Station No. 1
7 Toler Booster Station No. 2
8 Toler Booster Station No. 3
9 Sequoyah Tanks
10 Jones Avenue Wells and Pump Station
11 Kinsell Wells and Pump Station
12 92d Avenue Wells and Pump Station
1 3 Fitchburg Wells and Pump Station
,14 24th Avenue Booster Station
15 East 29th Street Booster Station
16 Alameda Office Building and Tank
17 39th Avenue Reservoir
18 Spring Tank
19 Central Reservoir
20 Highland Reservoir
21 Pleasant Valley Booster Station
22 Linda Vista Reservoir
23 Booth Street Reservoir
24 40th Street Booster Station
25 Thomhill Booster Station
26 Oakland Office Building
27 Oakland Corporation Yard
28 East Oakland Pipe Yard
29 Piedmont Reservoir No. 3
30 Bowman Receiver and Pump Station
31 Piedmont R<
32 Titus Re
33 Piedmont Reservoir No. 3
34 Kohle
35 Dinger
36 Shepard Canyon Springs
37 Piedmont Tunnels
38 Inter-County Tunnel
39 Pinehaven Tank
40 Temescal Lake
41 Temescal Filter and Booster Station
42 Claremont Manor Tank
43 Claremont Reservoir and Booster Station
44 Garber Reservoir No. 3 and Booster Station
45 Garber Reservoir No. 2
46 Claremont Tanks
47 Garber Reservoir No. 1
48 Prospect Booster Station
49 Summit Tunnels
50 Pheiffer Tunnels and Springs
51 Wild Cat Wells and Pump Station
52 Berryman Tunnel
53 Berryman Tunnel Tank
54 Berryman Reservoir
55 Rose Street Booster Statioi
56 Summit Reservoir
57 Brock Tank
58 Purdue Avenue Tank
59 Kensington Receiver
60 San Pablo Filter Plant
61 Summit Booster Station
62 San Pablo Tunnel
63 Wild Cat Diversion
64 San Pablo Lake
65 Downer Tank and Springs
66 Richmond Booster Station
67 Richmond Yard
68 Richmond Reservoir
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
SANITARY CONTROL OVER
WATERSHED AREAS
By P. I. Daniels, Sanitary Engineer.
P. I. Daniels
ALL surface water collected by East
y\ Bay Water Company is derived
from four watersheds having a com-
bined area of 80.05 miles. San Leandro
watershed consisting of 42.05 square
miles, San Pablo 32.15 square miles,
Wild Cat above diversion dam 3.10 square
miles, and Temescal
2.75 square miles.
The percentage of
land owned by East
Bay Water Com-
pany in these four
watershed areas is
47% in San Lean-
dro, 70% in San
Pablo, 100% in
Wild Cat and 34%
in Temescal. Near-
ly all land owned
in the watersheds
is leased to various
tenants, the uses to
which the land may
be put being restricted to the growing of
hay, grain, fruit and cattle raising. Cattle
grazing restricted and under control of the
Company. No dairies or hog raising are
allowed on property of the East Bay
Water Company inside catchment areas.
The lands owned by the Water Com-
pany in the San Leandro watershed are
leased to twelve tenants in pieces of from
400 to 1200 acres each. Of the twelve
tenants, seven reside within the watershed
area. In the San Pablo area there are
three tenants all living on property leased
to them, the land being used almost
entirely for stock raising. The leases con-
sist of from 700 to 5000 acres. In the
Wild Cat area there is one tenant who uses
the land for stock raising. In the Tem-
escal area there are no tenants on this
Company's property.
The watershed areas are divided into
districts, each district being in charge of
a sanitary patrolman who lives within the
district. There are two patrolmen in the
San Leandro watershed; two in San Pablo,
one in Wild Cat and one in Temescal.
The latter also patrols portions of San
Leandro and San Pablo. The patrolmen
attend to the enforcement of sanitary laws
regarding public water supplies in the
State of California and in addition are
deputy state fire wardens under the super-
vision of the State Board of Forestry.
This authority enables them to operate in
the prevention and suppression of forest
and grass fires.
The sanitary patrolmen are furnished
with living accommodations, a saddle
horse and feed for same in addition to the
monthly salary. Their duties are prin-
cipally of a sanitary nature, such as the
prevention of the pollution of the streams
and water supplies by residents or persons
in transit, also the prevention of hunting,
fishing, camping or building of fires on
lands of East Bay Water Company within
watershed areas.
Rain gauges are installed at or near the
residence of each sanitary patrolman and
he reports weekly to the main office the
rainfall for that period.
The water obtained from these catch-
ment areas is impounded in storage reser-
voirs or lakes — San Leandro Lake, San
Pablo Lake and Temescal Reservoir, water
obtained from the Wild Cat area being
diverted into the San Pablo supply. Water
in these impounding areas is treated when
found necessary with copper sulphate to
prevent the excessive growth of algae.
Aluminum sulphate is introduced into the
water at the entrance to the sendimentation
basin and allowed to settle out the larger
portion of suspended matter, then passed
through rapid sand filters and finally
treated by chlorine gas in quantities de-
pending on the bacterial content shown
by laboratory tests of the filtered water.
Daily laboratory tests are made to deter-
mine the chemical and bacterial contents
of the untreated water, the filtered effluent
and chlorinated product.
Also samples of the general water sup-
ply are taken from time to time at various
locations throughout the system from
house-taps and industrial services, to deter-
mine the final quality of water delivered
at the consumer's house or place of busi-
18
October, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
19
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
PRACTICE OF THE COMPANY IN MAINTAINING
SHOPS AND YARDS
By Harry Reinhardt and Fred J. Klaus, Assistant Chief Engineers.
T
HE Corporation Yard of the East
Bay Water Company operates under
the direction of the Engineering De-
partment, as its function is the supplying
of materials, repairs, etc., for construction
and maintenance of the system. The
accounting system, however, of this branch
of the service is carried on by the Auditing
Department, and though it co-ordinates
with the engineering end, there is no over-
lapping of authority to cause confusion.
The general storekeeper is actively in
charge of this department. Under his
direction are the assistant storekeepers,
who issue all materials and supplies on
order from his office. The machine shop
and garage, being located in the same
place, receive all of their assignments
of work from the same office. The meter
shop, although doing most of its work
for the Commercial Department, comes
also under the supervision of the general
storekeeper.
Formerly all of the departments at the
Corporation Yard were operated independ-
ently, though under the direction of the
Engineering Department, but it was found,
with the great increase of work that went
through these departments, that it was
necessary to centralize all the authority
into one, in order that there would be no
duplication of work or perhaps friction,
due to improper placing of orders.
At present all business relating to these
departments is readily carried forward
through the office maintained at the Yard.
As a matter of convenience in their work,
the superintendent of transmission and
distribution, the superintendent of general
construction, and the superintendent of
pumping plants, maintain their offices at
the Yard, for their duties are at times very
closely related, and by so doing their work
is very much expedited.
The machine shop and blacksmith shop
handle all ordinary repair work sent in
from pumping stations and construction
jobs. It is a very rare case where the
machinery and force we have are unable
to turn out any job sent to them. Heavy
forgings, and work requiring lathes of
large size are, however, handled by out-
side shops. All pipe threading and nip-
ple work, up to and including six-inch, are
done on pipe machines, but sizes over
six-inch are done on the lathes, for the
reason that the amount of work done does
not warrant the purchase of pipe machines
for this purpose.
The garage maintains, repairs, over-
hauls, paints and services all of our motor
equipment. It is our endeavor to keep
here at all times, spare parts, motors,
transmissions and rear ends for our small
cars, so that any piece of equipment is
kept out of service only a very short time
when a breakdown occurs. The endeavor
of this branch is to keep the rolling stock
moving, for if a machine is held up it
usually means that a number of men are
standing around waiting for it to be re-
paired.
The meter shop does all of the meter
repairing and testing in the system. With
the large amount of meters constantly
going through this branch, it has never
been necessary to send out any work for
outside shops to handle. It is necessary
to carry a large stock of repair parts for
all kinds and sizes of meters for the reason
that the various small companies taken
over by the East Bay Water Company
have had many different makes of meters
in their distributing systems.
The carpenter shop, a most important
branch for the maintenance and repair and
construction of the many buildings owned
by this Company has a stockroom for
supplies of various nature, and a shop
room where a great deal of cabinet work
is done. The men from this shop are
called upon to cover all of the territory
owned by the Company in the execution
of their work.
Dependent, of course, upon the amount
of work being carried on by the different
departments of the Company, the stock
carried at the Corporation Yard varies
within wide limits. Small fittings, bolts
and valves of a nature likely to be dam-
aged by exposure are stored under cover
where they are readily accessible for issue
and checking. The stock, of a bulky
nature, such as large pipe and fittings
that are not damaged by exposure, are
stored in the open.
(Continued to page 69)
20
October, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
21
October, 1922
BUBBLES "
East Bay Water Co.
CONSTRUCTION
By L. L. Farrell, Superintendent.
L. L. Farrell
A UTILITY serving a territory the
size of the one served by the East
Bay Water Company finds as a
necessity a large amount of equipment,
both for regular maintenance as well as
for new construction.
All orders and instructions pertaining
to construction and
maintenance are
passed through offi-
cial channels to the
Corporation Yard
office, 22d and Ade-
line Streets, Oak-
land. The only
exception to this
routine is that in-
structions and work
orders pertaining to
the City of Rich-
mond are passed
direct to the fore-
man in charge of
that district where a
yard with a small stock of material is
maintained for the convenience of the
Richmond crews. The city foreman has
charge of and is also responsible for
tools, material and motor equipment used
in this district under the supervision of the
Superintendent.
At the present time this department
maintains the following:
Field Meter Repairs:
5 Roadsters.
Maintenance and Construction on mains
and services:
15 Trucks.
Street Paving and Concrete Equipment
consists of:
8 Trucks.
3 Rollers.
4 Spears-Wells Oil Spraying Ma-
chines.
Service Department:
6 Roadsters.
1 Ingersoll-Rand portable Air Com-
pressor used both for breaking
concrete and asphaltum pavements
and for operating air tools for
caulking and riveting pipe.
2 Centrifugal Pumps mounted on
automobile chassis.
2 P. & H. Tamping Machines used
both for tamping back trenches
and breaking concrete pavement.
2 Fordson Tractors.
7 Portable Tool and Fitting Wagons.
The personnel of the department con-
sists of:
Superintendent.
Assistant Superintendent.
26 Foremen.
239 Helpers and caulkers, laborers,
etc.
The Service Department consists of a
foreman and five men, who are quartered
at the Corporation Yard. The work
assigned to this department consists of
"Turn-offs," "Turn-ons," meter inspec-
tions, tests, and closing and delinquent
bills.
The Meter Repair Department cares for
all repairs on meters that are possible
without removing same from the ground.
Meters that are badly damaged internally
or have ceased to register are removed
and replaced with another and are taken
to the shop for a general overhauling.
All minor repairs such as: the new dials,
glasses, repacking, leaky cases or spin-
dles, are made while the meter is in serv-
ice. All cleaning of large meters is made
without removing them, for as a usual
thing a large meter supplies a factory or
a large concern where interruption to the
service is of vital importance.
Concrete meter boxes and covers of
various sizes made to accommodate the
different sizes and types of meters have
been generally used by this Company for
the past five years, about 20,000 now
being used in the system. They are not
only much more economical from a dura-
bility standpoint than wooden boxes, but
are also much more sightly. Two types of
concrete meter boxes are used — one manu-
factured by the Art Concrete Works of
Pasadena, and the other by the N. Forni
Manufacturing Company of Santa Rosa.
Both concerns now installing factories in
Oakland.
Mains for both general transmission
and distribution vary in size from 2-inch
to 371/2 inches in diameter, the 2-inch
and 3-inch mains being generally of
22
October, 1922
"BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
23
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
wrought iron; 4-inch to 12-inch, cast iron
with bell and spigot joints and either 12
or 16-foot lengths; 12-inch and larger
being sheet iron and usually about 30
feet in length. Recently, however, 2-inch
cast iron pipe has been used with gratify-
ing results, being less susceptible to any
chemical action of the soil than wrought
iron pipe and also due to the fact that
being of bell and spigot type, it is pos-
sible to use cement joints, eliminating any
electrolytic action. This pipe comes in
5-foot lengths, making installation quite
easy and economical. The 2-inch cast iron
pipe is a recent innovation of the Mc-
Wane Foundries, who are also manufac-
turing 4-inch and 6-inch cast iron pipe
in 5-foot lengths, which have a decided
advantage over the longer lengths under
some conditions, particularly when in-
stalling pipe in some of the streets which
resemble the letter "S."
Mains are installed at various depths,
the smaller ones from 18 inches to 2y2
feet and the larger ones from 3 to 6 feet.
Cement is now being used almost exclu-
sively as a joint filler both on sheet iron
and cast iron pipe; lead, leadite and lead
wool being practically eliminated except
for emergency work where cement would
not have the required amount of time for
a proper set, the time being from 24 to
48 hours. Cement not only furnishes a
more substantial joint than any other
material, but is absolutely free from
sweating or leaks regardless of pressure,
heavy hauling over street, rolling trenches
over pipe or sub-grades for new pavement.
It is not only superior in these respects,
but as a preventative against electrolysis it
has been proven a decided success, not
only here, but by other companies
throughout the country.
Practically every foot of main installed
by this Company is insulated every one
hundred feet with some type of insulated
joint. Cement joints are used exclusively
for cast iron and sheet iron mains and
special flanged unions are used with the
various sizes of wrought iron pipe. These
flanges are bolted together with a fiber
gasket between the faces and a special
fiber tube over the body of the bolt and a
fiber washer under the bolt head as well
as under the nut.
Services are also insulated wherever
possible, both at the main and on the
house side of the meter. Joints are made
at the meter with a piece of fiber tubing
%x% inch and about %-inch in length;
this merely replacing our regulation
%x%-inch iron bushing used ordinarily
from the regular %-inch curb cock to the
%-inch meter coupling. A like method
is used between the lead and iron union
at the main and the service pipe.
Oxy-acetylene welded joints have been
tried out recently on three large exten-
sions of riveted steel pipe; 12-inch line
from Temescal Lake to Dingee Reservoir;
16-inch line from Summit Reservoir to
Rose Street, Berkeley; 20-inch line from
Central Reservoir to Thirty-ninth Avenue
Reservoir. These mains are now in op-
eration carrying pressure to over 200 lbs.
per square inch, and have exceeded all
expectations, demonstrating without a
doubt that they are not only more sub-
stantial than lead bands or rivets, but
much more economical.
Services up to and including 2-inch are
connected to the main with a lead service
connection. This not only gives the
service more flexibility, but also has a
tendency to prevent noise in the interior
of dwellings of the older type, where the
piping is found to be more or less faulty.
All service taps up to and including
6-inch are made with the pressure on the
main, cast iron and wrought iron mains
being drilled and tapped out and the
main cock installed against the pressure.
The same applies to all sheet iron mains
except that either a solder tap is made or
a saddle and clamp is placed around the
pipe. Mueller and Sharp tapping ma-
chines are generally used for these connec-
tions.
In recent years the practice of repair-
ing services has been entirely eliminated.
When a service begins to leak it has been
found advisable to renew the entire service.
This also applies to services in any streets
that are either having new pavement in-
stalled or in the older sections of the
cities where macadam is being replaced
with concrete or asphaltum pavement.
While probably 95 per cent of the serv-
ices in use are of the regulation 34-inch
size, various other sizes up to and includ-
ing 6-inch are in use, no set rule, however,
24
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
mmmxMM Mm ^
°xy-Acet
25
October, 1922
"BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
governing sizes, but rather the judgment of
the Engineering Department as to what
size will be practical, depending princi-
pally on size of main and the location to
be served.
Probably every type of gate valve ever
manufactured is represented in this sys-
tem. Occasionally gates have been found
in the system that even defy classification.
Left handed gates have been generallv
used for the past ten years, but many of
the older gates of all sizes and types are
right handed. All gates are installed at
street intersections, care being taken to
get the gate exactly opposite the propertv
lines of the intersecting street. Practi-
cally all gates are straight operating, not
over a dozen in the entire system having
by-passes. All upright operating gates as
well as curb cocks are covered with a cast
iron cover and all geared gates are cov-
ered by a reinforced concrete manhole, 4
feet wide, 6 feet long and the necessary
height. All gates are manually operated.
Practically all gates in the downtown
sections are inspected and operated yearly.
Other gates, especially large gates on
transmission lines, are used more or less
frequently for either connections of some
sort or repairs, consequently their general
condition is usually very good. No reg-
ular gate men are kept by this Company.
All shut-downs of mains or districts of
any size are supervised by the Superin-
tendent or Assistant Superintendent.
Usually shut-downs of any consequence
for new installations are made during the
night. Large areas are never shut off
during the day except in case of emer-
gencies. Smaller districts may be without
water for short periods during the day,
but only after the consumers have been
notified.
Many kinds of hydrants are in use in the
system, both the wet and dry break type.
While the regular 2-way 6-inch standard
predominates, different sizes of steamer
connections are in use by the cities of
Oakland, Berkeley and Piedmont. Prac-
tically all hydrants are installed at street
intersections and have individual gate
valves.
Fire departments are always notified
when hydrants are out of commission
either for general repairs or when emer-
gencies arise necessitating the closing
down of any of the system. All fire alarms
are reported to the general office through a
regulation signal system, and fires of any
consequence or any general alarms are
responded to by a member of this depart-
ment or an official of the Company.
No emergency night crews are kept on
duty. All night calls are reported directlv
to the Superintendent, who usually gets in
touch with the foreman living in the local-
ity of the trouble. Telephones are in-
stalled for most of the foremen and many
of them keep their trucks and equipment
at their places of residence, consequently
emergency crews can be organized with
very little delay at any time of the night.
Street paving and repairs of all exca-
vations made both for new construction
and general maintenance are also cared for
by this department. Three complete oil-
ing outfits are kept constantly busy with
oiling and rolling, and two additional
crews care for concrete work for both
sidewalk and street base concrete. The
asphaltum pavement is contracted to some
local paving company.
Minor extensions, leak excavations and
service trenches are repaired as soon as
possible after the actual work is com-
pleted. Large trenches for transmission
main installation are usually held open
until it is possible to test out the main for
any small leaks that may occur through
faulty caulking or defects in the seams or
rivets.
Occasionally on large trenches, power
excavation machines are found to be very
serviceable, but in general this Company
depends on other means of trenching. The
use of tractors and plows for the actual
breaking up of semi-permanent pavement,
and also for general trench work in almost
any kind of soil has proven a decided
success not only from an efficient as well
as a financial standpoint.
Power machines are hired when condi-
tions favorable to their use are encoun-
tered, but for ordinary trenching they are
extremely difficult to use due to the fact
that most of our city streets are a network
of water mains, gas mains, conduits, both
telephone and electric, and sewers, both
storm and domestic.
26
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE
EAST BAY WATER COMPANY'S PLANT
AS OF OCTOBER, 1922
By P. E. Magerstadt, Designing Engineer.
THE East Bay Water Company is a
privately owned public utility oper-
ating under the jurisdiction and reg-
ulation of the Railroad Commission of the
State of California.
The Company operates in a territory
about 35 miles in length and averaging
from iy% to 5 miles
in width. It serves
consumers in the
cities of Oakland,
Berkeley, Alameda,
Richmond, P i e d-
mont, Albany, Em-
eryville, El Cerrito,
San Leandro and
Newark, and some
unincorporated ter-
ritory adjacent to
these cities.
The Company and
its predecessors
have served the
Eastbay communi- R E- Magerstadt
ties for the past fifty-six years.
The Company's storage reservoirs sup-
ply a small portion of the low head dis-
trict by gravity. Due to diversified
topography, water service varies from sea
level to 1150 feet, necessitating a great
amount of booster pumping. The total of
all water served is pumped an average of
two times, and in some instances water is
pumped seven times before delivery.
The population of the entire district
served is approximately 350,000.
The Company employs 505 persons.
Its stock is owned by 2033 investors.
It maintains 83 motor vehicles.
The average daily travel of its motor
vehicles is over 3000 miles.
District offices are maintained at Oak-
land, Berkeley, Alameda and Richmond.
The amount of water filtered for the
past twelve months was 5.169 billion gal-
lons.
The Company maintains a completely
equipped laboratory, making all of its
own bacteriological and chemical analyses
of the waters in the system.
Over 4000 water analyses are made per
year.
The Company owns over 42,000 acres of
watershed land for the protection of its
water supplies.
It has three large storage reservoirs of
a total of over nineteen billion gallons
capacity.
It has 39 distribution reservoirs with a
total capacity of 286 million gallons.
It has a total of 91 miles of transmission
main.
It has a total of 1146 miles of distribu-
tion main.
It has 86,477 active services.
It gained 5726 services in the past 12
months.
It has 83,137 meters in the ground.
It gained 5250 meters in the past 12
months.
It has 2844 hydrants in the system.
The average consumption for the past
12 months was 23.1 million gallons per
day.
The month of maximum consumption
was:
August, with 29 million gallons per day
average.
The month of minimum consumption
was:
February, with 19.9 million gallons per
day average.
The Company maintains three steam
driven pump plants with a total capacity
of 37 million gallons per clay.
The Company maintains 27 electricallv
driven pump plants with a total capacitv
of 63 million gallons per dav.
The Company has a developed surface
water supply of 20 million gallons per
day, developed well fields and springs of
18 million gallons per day, and an unde-
veloped surface water supply of 12 million
gallons per day.
Over one million meter readings are
made per year.
Over one million bills are prepared,
rendered and collected per year.
27
October, 1922
''BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
WATER PURIFICATION
By W. F. Langelier,
Associate Professor, Sanitary Engineering, University of California.
Consulting Chemist and Bacteriologist for East Bay Water Company.
Langelier
EACH year our accepted standards of
purity for the quality of public
water supplies are becoming more
stringent. The quality of water which is
now demanded and served to the public,
based on our most reliable indices of pol-
lution, is much better than it was a few
years ago. And,
moreover, during
this period of rising
standards, our avail-
able sources of sup-
ply are for various
reasons becoming
more and more sub-
ject to pollution.
These conditions
may at first seem
paradoxical; the
answer is to be
found in the rapid-
ly increasing num-
ber of cities that
are adopting water
purification. It is certain that as time
goes on our standards will continue to
rise and, with the inevitable increase in
the density of population on our water-
sheds, the security of our water supplies
will become increasingly menaced. More
and more, cities will be confronted with
the necessity of adopting artificial meth-
ods of purification. In the year 1911 only
twenty per cent of the urban population of
the country was served with artificially
purified water, whereas at the present
time it is estimated that one-half of the
population is thus served.
There can be no doubt that combined
efforts to prevent contamination of water
at its source and the rapidly extending
adoption of water purification have been
largely responsible for the tremendous re-
ductions in mortality from typhoid fever
and other intestinal diseases, which have
been experienced in many cities of this
country during the last fifty years. A
study of the mortality from intestinal dis-
eases in almost any representative Ameri-
can city will reveal the fact that the great-
est reductions have occurred simultane-
ously with improvements in the quality of
the water supply.
If the water supply of a community is
to be entirely satisfactory in quality, it
must fulfill certain requirements. These
requirements are universally recognized
by those engaged in the business of water
supply and by the consumers themselves.
The water should be perfectly clear or
free from clay, silt and microscopic plant
life common to most supplies of surface
origin. The attractiveness of water, more-
over, is much enhanced by the absence of
brownish coloring matter, usually due to
vegetable matter in colloidal suspension
and solution. Foreign tastes and odors
are very frequently the causes of com-
plaints by consumers of water in which
algae have been allowed to develop or
which have been contaminated with cer-
tain industrial wastes. Excessive mineral
content, particularly the salts of lime and
magnesia which impart hardness to the
water, are objectionable. And most im-
portant of all, it is essential that water
delivered to consumers should be bacteri-
ologically safe or relatively free from ob-
jectionable bacteria, particularly the Colon
Bacillus, an organism normal to the intes-
tinal tract of man and consequently
indicative of sewage contamination or pos-
sible infection with the specific bacteria
of disease. There are other properties
which may affect the quality of the water,
but the most important have been men-
tioned.
Raw waters, even those from protected
watersheds, rarely conform wholly to
these requirements, and it is to be expected
that, ultimately, artificially treated water
supplies will be the rule. Up to the pres-
ent time the efforts of those in charge of
water utilities have been directed princi-
pally in eliminating such contamination
as may render the water hygienically
unsafe for drinking purposes, and at the
same time removing such substances as
detract from the appearance of the water.
Methods of treatment for the accomplish-
ment of these results are entirely adequate
and in most cities can be carried out at a
cost which is not prohibitive. In many
instances the process involves four distinct
operations, namely: coagulation sedimenta-
tion, filtration and disinfection. If the
28
October, 1922
"BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
SAN PABLO FILTERS
29
October, 1922
"BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
raw water is always perfectly clear and
colorless, simple disinfection with chlorine
gas may be sufficient.
It has been argued that these purifi-
cation processes involve the addition to
the water of certain chemical substances
which are not normal to water and food,
and that these may be productive of ob-
jectionable pathologic conditions. At one
time particular concern was felt regarding
the addition of alum to water in the pro-
cess of coagulation. In this connection it
is interesting to note that a comprehensive
study of this matter recently made in con-
nection with a number of water treatment
plants in Illinois showed quite conclusively
that coagulation with alum and filtration
of water as ordinarily carried out results
in actually reducing the alum content of
the untreated water. The treatment of water
with chlorine for the purpose of disinfec-
tion may, under certain conditions, impart
taste and odor to the water, but during the
several years that this process has been in
use there has developed no evidence to
indicate that this treatment may be dele-
terious to health in any way.
Recently the subject of vitamines in re-
lation to drinking water has been men-
tioned. It has been suggested that these
substances which have been found to be
present in certain foods essential to good
health, may be present in raw water, and
that purification, particularly disinfection
of water, may result in their elimination
or destruction. Theoretically, this argu-
ment would appear to be sound. Vitamines
may be present in water, particularly if the
water is contaminated with plankton;
moreover, it is well known that vitamines
are easily destroyed either by cooking or
by the action of certain toxic salts. From
a practical standpoint, however, the fact
appears to be well demonstrated that we
must depend upon certain fresh fruits and
vegetables for our supply of these sub-
stances. Their great abundance in our
most common articles of diet renders their
possible or occasional presence in drink-
ing water of little or no importance.
Authors of our latest books dealing with
this subject do not mention drinking water
as a possible source of vitamines.
Tastes and odors caused by the growth
and decay of algae, usually quite common
in the surface water supplies of this State,
may be the cause of much dissatisfaction
among the consumers. Preventive and
control measures are practiced, but these
are only partially successful.
If these organisms develop in small res-
ervoirs, treatment with small doses of cop-
per sulphate or the covering of the reser-
voirs to exclude sunlight may prove
effective. In large storage reservoirs,
however, these methods may not be eco-
nomically practicable. If the reservoir is
deep, stratification of odors or tastes may
occur. That is to say, the water near the
bottom may have an odor of decomposi-
tion, while near the top the typical odor
and taste of the living organism may be
present. The obvious remedy is to draw
the water from an intermediate level.
Aeration may be effective in removing
odors, particularly odors of decomposi-
tion, but such treatment as well as the
other measures that have been mentioned,
are only partially successful and, where the
growths are heavy, cannot be depended
upon as an absolute safeguard.
It is of course hazardous to predict the
probable trend of future development in
the matter of water treatment. Certainly
it is becoming increasingly apparent, how-
ever, that many supplies which are now
simply disinfected, ultimately will have to
be filtered. Disinfection of water with
chlorine has not proven altogether accept-
able to consumers and its use may be at
least partly replaced by ozone, if the latter
can be produced more economically.
Water softening is another phase of
water treatment which in the next few
years is likely to undergo extensive devel-
opment. Municipal water softening has
been adopted in a few instances with
apparent success, but it is a fact that soft
water service is not yet- readily available to
the domestic consumer. A comparatively
new method of water softening, in which
water is simply brought into contact with
an artificially prepared sodium aluminum
silicate, possesses a marked advantage over
the lime and soda process, in that elaborate
analytical control is unnecessary. This
feature recommends its use for small in-
stallations and the process has proven very
popular with laundry operators. The pro-
cess is particularly adapted to softening
water in the home and it is not unreason-
able to suppose that, in the future, water
utilities will investigate the possibilities
of offering such service.
30
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
ELECTROLYSIS
METHODS OF MITIGATION— SURVEYS
By E. B. Stewart, Electrical Engineer.
E. B. Stewart
THE subject of electrolysis in its
effect upon water mains is generally
a pertinent one to those whose dis-
tribution systems lie within the radius of
the tracks of an electric railway company.
This paper treats of the methods employed
by this Company in minimizing damage to
the piping system
from electrolysis,
due to the leakage
of stray current.
The two primary
features of elec-
trolysis mitigation
are those which are
applied to the rail-
way system and
those which are
applied to the en-
dangered structures.
The former consti-
tute the primary
means, because they
attack the trouble
at its source — the production of the stray
currents. Remedial measures applied to
the railway system and those applied to
the endangered structure are supple-
mentary to one another, and not alterna-
tives. All have for their object the reduc-
tion in the stray currents leaving the
endangered structures to flow to ground.
Fundamentally remedial measures are
those which are designed to minimize elec-
trolytic corrosion, both by means which
tend to prevent stray currents from flowing
into the pipes, and by means which tend
to oppose the serious effects of such stray
currents as may reach the pipes in spite
of these precautions.
While it is not the purpose of this paper
to discuss remedies to be applied to rail-
way systems, it is perhaps not amiss to
mention some of the important measures
that can and are being applied to railway
systems in order to minimize stray current
leaking through earth to pipes. These
measures fall under the following heads:
(1) The use of a proper number and
location of power houses or substations.
(2) Adequate maintenance of track
bonding.
(3) Low track drop — numerous inde-
pendent connections to the track for the
return of current afford the most effective
means of reducing high potential gradients
and over-all voltages, thereby limiting
stray currents. This can be accomplished
by the installation of insulated negative
feeders, and by the use of heavy rails with
well bonded joints.
(4) Negative bus should be insulated
from earth.
(5) Connections to rails should be
made in dry rather than in wet locations.
(6) Electrical interconnection between
parallel tracks in close proximity, or of
tracks one of which passes over the other,
belonging to the same or different railway
systems.
The principal measures applied to piping
system for electrolysis prevention are:
(1) Increasing the resistance of pipe
lines by the use of insulating joints.
(2) Electrical drainage.
(3) Electrical connections between pipes
crossing in close proximity.
Electrical drainage is applied to a lim-
ited extent in the vicinity of a number of
power stations, and consists of short drain-
age cables to the negative return feeder
cables at the power station or connections
to the rails a short distance from the power
stations. This system of drainage is only
effective for a very small percentage of
the entire areas, due to the fact that all
substations in this district are operating
on long feeding distances and no return
negative feeders are employed to return
the current back to the negative bus. Con-
sequently the area drained under such con-
ditions is a very small percentage of the
positive area around the power stations
which extends theoretically about 40 per
cent of the distance from the supply sta-
tion to the end of the feeding distance.
Under the present railway conditions
insulating joints are used to reduce current
flow in new pipe lines and some existing
pipe lines in negative and neutral zones,
with particular reference to those locali-
ties where it is expected that large trans-
verse currents are flowing between parallel
rails, due to unusually high voltage drop
between them, or where it is expected that
31
October. 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
current is discharging from the pipes to
ground, in lines dead ending in soils of
low electrical resistance.
In the insulated sections the service pipes
are prevented from making electrical con-
tact with other piping systems by the use
of insulating joints at the meters, as illus-
THIS MAIN LAID WITH INSULATING JOINTS
T-
this section of the main and service
subject to damage unless an insulating
joint is installed at a
F/GURE J
SHOW INS THE NECESSITY Of INSTALLING
INSULATING JOINTS IN SERVICES CONNECTED
TO MAINS LAID WITH INSULATING JOINTS.
trated in Fig. No. 1. Without insulating
joints in the service pipe, stray current
could enter from the other piping systems
through gas water heaters and other appli-
ances with which it comes in contact, and
injury would result to both the service and
the section of the main to which it con-
nects. It is often necessary to install a
few insulating joints on cross mains which
connect the insulated sections, so as not to
concentrate the potential at the insulated
sections. Insulating joints in services are
made up by threading a fibre bushing into
a bell reducer, and then threading the
service pipe into the fibre bushing. Such
a joint is illustrated in Fig. 2.
, FIBRE BUSHING
REDUCER ■
F/GURE 2
INSULATING JOINT IN SERVICES.
Two types of insulating joints are in use
on wrought iron and steel pipes. Flanged
type joints are used on the smaller size
wrought iron pipes and cement joints are
used on the large steel mains. Flanged
joints, as illustrated in Fig. 3, are made
up by the ordinary cast iron screw flanges
with a disc of fibre % inch thick between
{GASKET OF INSULATING MATERIAL
WASHER OF INSULATING
MATERIAL
IRON WASHER
WASHER OF INSULATING
MATERIAL
BUSHING OF
INSULATING MATERIAL
FIGURE 3
INSULATED FLANGE JOINT
the surface of the flanges, and placing
insulating washers under the bolt hoods
and nuts. Red fibre is most commonly
used for insulating material. Cement
joints for large steel mains are made up
by using an oversize sleeve of steel pipe
about 18 inches in length, and provides
about 1 inch clearance between the sleeve
and the pipe to be insulated. A cement
bushing is placed in the center of the
sleeve to prevent metallic contact between
the sections of pipe. Cement is calked
STEEL JACKET ,7 CEMENT BUSHING
^CEMENT
FIGURE 4
,NSULAT/N6 JOINT FOR LARGE STEEL MAINS
between the pipe and the sleeve in the
usual manner. Such joints are illustrated
in Fig. 4.
For cast iron pipes with bell and spigot
joints, a short wooden ring, as illustrated
in Fig. 5, is placed between the inside
of the bell and the end of the spigot to
prevent metallic contact between the pipe
lengths, and then the joints are calked with
cement. The bead of the spigot end of
the pipe is removed.
In new work insulating joints are placed
at intervals of approximately 100 feet.
A number of potential differences were
taken across insulating joints installed in
various parts of the system, and as a gen-
eral rule these potential differences were
32
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
WOODEN INSULATING RINGj
_. „ CEMENT
CEriENT
FIGURE 5
INSULATING JOINT FOR CAST IRON PIPE.
found to be very low. A large number of
joints were found to have a drop less than
0.1 volt average for twenty-four hours,
which should be considered safe, so far as
joint corrosion is concerned, as the cor-
rosion at any joint is dependent usually
on the potential difference across the joint,
and the general liability to joint corrosion
is dependent therefore on the maximum
potential difference in the piping system.
ELECTROLYSIS SURVEY
The principal measurements which are
made in an electrolysis survey, in order to
determine the paths and magnitude of
stray electric currents, fall under four
heads :
(1) Measurements of potential differ-
ence between adjacent structures.
(2) Measurements of potential differ-
ences between points in the same structure.
(3) Measurements of current flowing
on a structure; and
(4) Physical examination of under-
ground structures.
In addition to these, measurements of
the potential gradient in earth adjacent to
piping structures are frequently made.
These measurements are made with non-
polarized electrodes placed at right angles
to the axes of the pipe, and the potential
gradient through earth is observed with an
instrument of very high current sensitivity.
This test serves to indicate the direction of
current flow between the pipe and the
adjacent earth.
MEASUREMENT OF POTENTIAL DIFFER-
ENCES BETWEEN STRUCTURES
These measurements serve to indicate
roughly the regions where corrosion is
most likely to occur and the regions sub-
stantially immune. They are, however,
quite insufficient as a basis for final con-
clusions, because the actual rate of cor-
rosion depends on the current leaving the
structure, and this current in turn depends
both on the potential difference and on
the resistance of the soil between the
structures.
The potential difference measurements
consist of voltmeter readings between a
pipe and the adjacent track, between a pipe
and a lead cable sheath, between a pipe
and the adjacent pipe, etc. They are made
at various points along each street on
which there are electric railway tracks and
occasionally between underground struc-
tures on other streets, as well. At each
location the potential difference is meas-
ured between the water pipe and all other
structures in the same street, all of these
readings being taken simultaneously.
MEASUREMENTS OF CURRENT FLOWING
ON A STRUCTURE
Current measurements are taken at loca-
tions where relatively high currents would
be anticipated from a study of the poten-
tial measurements. Mains in the same
streets as electric railway tracks and mains
connecting streets on which there are
tracks are normally selected. Currents on
rails are also sometimes measured, and
serve as a good index of the track condi-
tions.
To obviate the necessity of excavating
the pipe whenever it is desired to make a
current measurement, permanent test sta-
B, R
(SOLDERED JOINT
"?<
SERVICE BOX
-IRON PIPES
RUBBER COVERED
WIRE
'(SOLDERED JOINT
— ^
FIGURE 6
METHOD OF INSTALLING LEADS FOR
CURRENT TEST STATIONS
tions are installed at each point where
current is to be measured. Rubber covered
leads of known resistance are soldered to
a continuous length of pipe at a known
distance apart and terminate in a service
box, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Fig. 7 shows
the method of installing leads for current
test station on paved streets. They may be
connected at any time to a millimeter and
the strength of the current flow in the pipe
determined. Sometimes for rough meas-
urements, particularly in connection with
measurements of the resistance of pipe
joints, contact is made to the pipe without
excavating it, by the use of rods terminat-
33
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
ing in steel drills. The rods are insulated
with shellacked tape the entire length up
to the point of the drill. The purpose of
^ COVER
/ (-STREET LEVEL
RUBBER COVERED WIRE-
SOLDERED JOINT
/-?
S^-IRON PIPE
.WOOD BLOCK
-SOLDERED JOINT
MEASURE & RECORD THIS DISTANCE
FIGURE 7
METHOD OF INSTALLING LEADS FOR CURRENT
TEST STATIONS ON PAVED STREETS.
this insulation is to prevent contact with
the earth and thus eliminate any galvanic
potentials that might be set up as a result.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF PIPES
When electrical tests have indicated that
current is leaving the pipes at a certain
locality, the structure is excavated and a
physical examination is made. Excava-
tions are also naturally made where cases
of failure have occurred. Sometimes the
corrosion will be evident on inspection.
Cast iron mains, however, will frequently
appear in good condition, even when much
of the metal has actually been corroded
away, on account of the oxide and graphite
deposit that remains in place, leaving the
form of the structure unaltered. In such
cases, a test hammer is used to determine
the softness of the pipe. By carefully
inspecting a cast iron pipe with a pitting
test hammer, the pits are readily located.
For a permanent record of the extent
of damage, a depth gauge is used to meas-
ure the depth of the pits. The depth gauge
has a flat surface to rest on the corroded
portion of the pipe and a movable point
which is made to touch the bottom of pit;
the depth of pit then being read directly.
Complete electrical readings are taken
at the location of an excavation, so that
the results of an examination may be inter-
preted. A blank form is provided for
recording this information.
INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS
The most difficult part of an electrolysis
survey, perhaps, consists in drawing proper
conclusions. No one set of measurements,
as previously described, will suffice as a
basis. While potential readings represent
the tendency to produce stray current, the
currents which cause the damage are deter-
mined as well by the resistivity of the soil,
which varies over wide limits from one
part of the city to another. Currents flow-
ing on pipes will be affected by the relative
location of the pipes and the rails in the
streets. Services or mains passing very
close to the rails will have large stray
currents, and these currents are likely to
leave over restricted areas, causing more
concentrated corrosion. The current
strength on pipes cannot always be used
as an index of electrolysis hazards. Rel-
atively large currents may be flowing on
a pipe without causing any corresponding
damage, for the reason that these currents
do not flow to the soil. On the other hand,
no current may be flowing along a main
and yet corrosion may be taking place due
to current reaching this main from a gas
pipe through service pipes.
The electrolysis hazard of a piping sys-
tem is incomplete in the absence of infor-
mation showing the direction of current
flow between the pipe and the earth imme-
diately adjacent to the pipe, for the reason
that the factor directly responsible for the
corrosion of a pipe is dependent upon the
amount of current flowing away from the
pipe to earth.
The measurements obtained during a
survey are all reduced to a common basis
of time. Averages are taken for 24 hours
and in addition averages are taken for
shorter intervals, including peak loads
usually for a one-hour period. The longer
intervals of time serve as a better index in
the study of corrosion as the average rate
of corrosion is as a rule proportional to
the average current distribution.
To definitely establish the responsibility
of a railway for any corrosion that has
occurred, it is merely necessary to show
that current has been leaving the pipe at
the point of corrosion, and that this current
is derived from the railway system. The
source of the current may be established
by comparing the curve of the stray cur-
rent plotted against time with the load
curve of the railway system, or with the
curve of the current on a neighboring rail
or a track feeder.
34
October, 1922
BUBBLES'
East Bay Water Co.
SERVICE AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
By C. E. Thatcher, Assistant to General Manager.
Thatcher
EDGAR ROWLAND, with his wife
and children, stepped off the Over-
land train in Oakland not long ago,
having boarded the train at one of the
large cities in the Middle West. Edgar had
moved to Oakland to engage in business.
He and his family stopped with friends for
a few days and
until such time as
would be necessary
to select a suitable
home. The home
having been select-
ed, Edgar then
turned to the estab-
lishing of his busi-
ness in his new field
of endeavor and
said to his good
wife, "Now you
open up the new
home and get things
going." Before mov-
ing in, naturally
the house required cleaning — the water
must be turned on and help secured
to do the work. Water first, though,
said Mrs. Rowland. The telephone was
resorted to and in a few seconds a
response, "Water Company!" — "I am
Mrs. Edgar Rowland and my husband
is very busy as we just moved here
from the East. We have purchased a home
at 3263 Logan Avenue and I want the
water turned on tomorrow morning. Of
course there is no one at the new home now
and we are located with friends ten blocks
away, 4287 Fairbault Court. I can come
to the office some time tomorrow to make
application for the service, but it will be
late as my children are small and it will
be necessary for me to bring them along
as I do not want to impose on my friends
to care for them." In a gentle tone of
voice Mrs. Rowland was informed that she
need not worry one bit, — a representative
of the East Bay Water Company would
turn on the water in the morning at the
new home and also call at her temporary
stopping place and secure her signature on
the usual application form for service. She
exclaimed, "How different from the method
of applying for water service in the city
we formerly lived in, and such a con-
venience, too."
True, it was "such a convenience" to
Mrs. Rowland, but more than that, it was
SERVICE. Furthermore, a pleasing rela-
tionship was established between the East
Bay Water Company and the Rowland
family which will be lasting. It was Mrs.
Rowland's first contact with the Company
and the impression made aided in lighten-
ing her duties, which were many, in estab-
lishing her new home. At the dinner
table that evening she referred to her
pleasing experience and satisfactory busi-
ness transaction with the East Bay Water
Company. Later in the evening when
neighbors called to extend a welcome to
the newcomers, Mrs. Rowland related in
a delightful manner, her experience in
transacting business with the Water Com-
pany.
A few days later, at her new home, Mrs.
Rowland received a letter phrased some-
what as follows:
Oakland, California,
October 15, 1922.
Mrs. Edgar Rowland,
4287 Fairbault Court,
Oakland, California.
Dear Madam:
Your name appears on the records of
this office as a new consumer and this
opportunity is taken to thank you for your
patronage.
You will be interested to know that the
East Bay Water Company has approxi-
mately 83,500 meters in service in the East-
bay cities. Careful inspection and monthly
reading of each meter by a competent field
force assures the consumer that the meter
must register correctly. The meter at your
premises is read about the 6th of each
month.
All meters, before being installed, are
inspected and tested as to their correctness.
The testing apparatus is under the super-
vision of the County Sealer of Weights and
Measures.
The enclosed pamphlet entitled "Don't
Waste Water" contains suggestions regard-
ing the upkeep of plumbing, rules con-
sumers should be familiar with, and instruc-
tions how to read the meter.
It will be a pleasure to the writer to give
personal attention to your inquiries and
35
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
co-operate with you in every way to render
the high standard of service this Company
endeavors to give at all times.
You are invited to make use of the spaci-
ous lobby in this office, as a convenient
place to meet others by engagement when
in the shopping and business district.
Your very truly,
EAST BAY WATER COMPANY,
J. P. FIEBERLING,
District Manager.
JPF/A
When Edgar reached home, somewhat
fatigued from a strenuous day in getting
his business organized, Mrs. Rowland was
quick to hand him the letter. The con-
tents had a tendency to soothe his tired
brain. He was impressed, so much so,
that he put the letter in his pocket and the
next day at his place of business exhibited
it and had his newly organized force read
it. Like hundreds and thousands of "Mr.
and Mrs. Rowlands," who are patrons of
this Company in the Eastbay cities, this
Mr. and Mrs. Rowland were received by
and introduced, to the Company, at the
time of their first contact in a manner
indicating a friendly welcome and an
interest in their success in getting estab-
lished in the community.
The Commercial Department of the
East Bay Water Company is the point of
contact with the public. Its operations
cover principally service and public rela-
tions.
PERSONNEL
The backbone of a public utility, such
as the East Bay Water Company, is its
army of trained employees. In the ren-
dering of real service and the establishing
and maintaining of friendly relations with
the public only those who are specially
fitted for public service work are selected
and developed. The personnel is abso-
lutely free from outside influence, such as
from political sources (city, county and
federal) .
Prompt, intelligent and helpful assist-
ance rendered to consumers when visiting
the Company's business offices creates in
the mind of the consumer confidence in
those with whom dealing, and a feeling of
satisfaction that the Company is well
organized and that all understand their
business. Satisfied consumers are splendid
advertisers. Employees are selected and
trained to produce such results.
OUTSIDE (FIELD) FORCE
Those selected for outside (field) serv-
ice must possess special qualifications in
this, — that their temperamental make-up is
such that they can perform their daily
duties and keep on an even keel at all
times. Patience, kindness, consideration
and leniency are the essentials for a field
man to possess. He must be quick to size
up the conditions and circumstances caus-
ing a patron to assume, perhaps, an
unusual attitude. The meter readers,
service men, inspectors and collectors in
the employ of the East Bay Water Com-
pany meet such requirements and are
specially trained and schooled. Monthly
meetings are held of all the field forces.
Proceedings of the meetings are recorded
in the form of minutes and each employee
is provided with a copy. Innovations are
inaugurated from time to time and the
way is paved for splendid co-operation
among the men in dealing with the public.
The esprit de corps of the field force is at
a high standard.
COURTESY
It is often said that a utility rendering
an uninterrupted and continuous service
has created a big asset, but, on the other
hand, courtesy is as equally important.
Therefore, special attention is given to the
selection of suitable and competent persons
for every position where employees deal
with the public face to face or over the
telephone. True courtesy backed with an
attitude of sincerity results in creating a
friendly feeling on the part of the con-
sumer toward the Company. At the
business office counter; at the door of the
home of the patron or in the field, where
the Company is the recipient of moneys,
or when application is made for the turn-
ing on or off of the service, all such
transactions are closed with the words,
"Thank you." The attitude of all em-
ployees toward patrons is always of a
helpful character.
THE TELEPHONE
Courteous treatment over the telephone
is appreciated by a patron to the same
extent as courtesy displayed at the counter.
The importance of answering a telephone
signal properly cannot be overestimated.
The East Bay Water Company has placed
before all employees special instructions
for their guidance in conversing over the
36
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
37
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
telephone. The word, "Hello," is not
used. No matter when and where the
telephone receiver is taken down, the
response to the signal must be "Water
Company," or "Mr. So and So speaking."
Care is exercised in not hanging up the
receiver until it is felt that the person at
the other end of the line understands what
has been said and is satisfied. As a rule
the conversation is concluded with a
remark, "All right, Mr. Jones, goodbye."
INQUIRIES AND COMPLAINTS
Every inquiry or complaint, either
through the mail or made verbally, is
acknowledged and receives prompt atten-
tion. Those who have to do with mana-
gerial and supervisory work are constantly
endeavoring to create in the minds of the
employees that all complaints must be
accepted and investigated from the point
of view that the consumer is right. To
argue with a patron is forbidden. Seventy-
five per cent of so-called complaints are
nothing more than inquiries. Answers to
such are phrased in simple language so
that the patron may fully and clearly
understand. It is far better to detail
somewhat in making an explanation rather
than to leave a doubt in the mind of the
person making the inquiry, or an impres-
sion of curtness, or what might be termed
by the patron as a "short and evasive
answer."
NEAT AND TIDY BUSINESS OFFICES
Those performing managerial and super-
visory duties pride themselves in creating
clean and wholesome surroundings in
which employees can carry on their work
in dealing with the public. Littered desks
are not permitted. All labor with this in
mind, "There is a place for everything and
everything should be in its place." Waste
paper baskets are not targets for waste
paper, but receptacles. Floors are kept
free from litter and every record form, and
bundles of papers when handled in view
of the public must be placed in a uniform
and tidy condition and so kept. All busi-
ness offices are maintained in a sanitary and
attractive condition. The East Bay Water
Company operates upon the theory that
although many persons passing its offices
may never enter, a glance through the
window on a cheerful, wholesome and
sanitary room occupied by a neat, tidy and
intelligent looking working force, coupled
with the usual activity, results in making
a splendid impression of the Company as
a whole, and whenever the Company's
name is mentioned the impression made at
the time of observing the offices, will be
remembered which, without a doubt, will
be most pleasing.
INNOVATIONS
Every branch of the service, where con-
tact with the consumer is had, is constantly
being studied with a view of lightening the
burden (if it may be referred to as a bur-
den) of the consumer in carrying on
transactions with the Company. Many
innovations, which might be classed as
new, have been introduced and put into
successful operation. The executives and
operating officers of the Company desire
to place the business office of the Company
at the door of the home of the consumer
and avoid inconveniencing the consumer
to the extent of coming to the business
office unless the consumer so desires.
EDUCATIONAL WORK
A pamphlet entitled, Collecting and
Distributing a Domestic Water Supply,
by Paul I. Daniels, Sanitary Engineer, has
been given wide distribution among con-
sumers. Hundreds of copies have been
placed in the libraries in the cities in which
the Company operates, and the library in
each school has been well supplied with
copies for the use of pupils studying
Civics and General Science. For the
guidance of consumers in economically
operating their house water fixtures and
appliances, a pamphlet entitled, Don't
Waste Water, has been placed in each
home and is also placed in each new home.
The contents of the pamphlet covers sug-
gestions regarding the upkeep of plumbing,
rules consumers should be familiar with
and instructions how to read the meter.
Representatives of the Company from
time to time, upon invitation, address
classes at the public schools. Graphic
charts and large photographs of the pump-
ing and filter units are exhibited. The
method of collecting, storing, purifying
and distributing a domestic water supply
is explained and pamphlets and other
literature distributed among those in the
classes. Rules governing the protection of
38
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
the watersheds at the source of supply and
sanitary methods employed by the Com-
pany to insure the serving of a pure water,
are featured. Whenever opportunity is
afforded the same information is given to
gatherings at club luncheons, improve-
ment association meetings and various
other organizations interested in civic bet-
terments and city planning and building.
At local expositions, bazaars and fairs
appropriate exhibits are installed in charge
of competent representatives. Exhibits are
housed in attractive booths. The exhibits
consist mostly of working meters; parts of
meters; compound meters showing sec-
tional views; sections of jointed pipe;
pressure regulators and other parts of
equipment used in operating various units.
A large number of colored photographs
are exhibited showing the principal and
important units of the system. Lectures
are given by special attendants at intervals
covering in a general way the collecting,
storing, purifying and distributing of the
Company's water supply.
PUBLICITY AND RELATIONS WITH
THE PRESS
The value of publicity in all publications
such as daily and weekly papers and
periodicals is fully appreciated. The
newspapers with circulation in the Eastbay
cities are to be complimented for the care-
ful manner in which they scrutinize and
edit stories and information pertaining to
this Company passed to them for publica-
tion from various sources. Inquiries made
at the offices of the Company by newspaper
representatives regarding rumors, stories
circulated and information broadcasted by
others pertaining to the Company's opera-
tion, condition and emergency moves are
given prompt and careful attention. Noth-
ing is concealed. The facts in the case are
gathered and submitted. If the publica-
tion of such is damaging, the Company
profits from the experience. Regardless
of the results truthful statements are made
to the press. Through authorized channels
the Company submits to all publications
with circulation in the territory it serves,
as often as conditions will permit, inter-
esting stories regarding operation, devel-
opment work, improvements, maintenance
and planning for future needs.
ADVERTISING
There is an old saying, "It pays to
advertise." 'Tis true, too. A public
utility, such as the East Bay Water Com-
pany, could advertise in the old-fashioned
way, say something like this:
EAST BAY WATER COMPANY
Its service covers domestic and indus-
trial use. Prompt attention given
to applications
512 16th Street Oakland, Calif.
but it would not pay. It would be money
wasted.
This Company has during the past three
years published in the daily papers, hav-
ing circulation in the Eastbay cities, a
series of advertisements which have pro-
duced wonderful results.
The directors and officers of the Com-
pany felt that their patrons and the public
in general were not well enough informed
regarding the magnitude of the Company's
plant, the methods in vogue of collecting,
storing, purifying and distributing a
domestic water supply and the unusual
obstacles with which this Company has to
combat to properly serve its consumers.
In other words, the Company wanted its
patrons and the public to know all about
its business and about its service.
Advertising agencies, with their trained
forces, are best equipped to conduct an
advertising campaign. The services of K.
L. Hamman, Advertising, were enlisted.
Advertisements have been published and
many are to be published covering:
First — Economical use of water by the
consumer, which naturally affected the
pocketbook of the consumer.
Second — Sanitation, protection, treatment
of the water and filtration.
Third — Cost of water, not in dollars and
cents, but in the form of facts regard-
ing water transportation problems.
Fourth — The personnel of the East Bay
Water Company; its army of trained
employees.
Fifth — How to beautify the home with
well kept lawns, gardens, flowers,
shrubbery, etc.
Sixth — The Company's securities as an
investment, suggesting and encourag-
ing a "consumer owned company" and
(Continued to page 49)
39
October, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
-U
EAST BAY WATER COMPANY
Chart Showing Forces Employed and Supervision of Operations
October 1, 1922
STOCK! XJH
BOARD ODIRE
executive; m
PRE)S
Sanitary
Inspector
Chemist
' \
Sanitary
/
\
Sanitary
Patrol 8
Caretakers
6
SAN PABLO
Superintendent 1
Operators 7
SAN LEANDRO
Superintendent 1
Operator 1
GROUND SUPPLY:— Production and Transmission Pumping
ALVARADO
Miscel. Springs,
Tunnel, and Weill
Operator 1
BOOSTER PUMPING
GARAGE AND SHOPS
Machinists 4
Blacksmiths 2
Garagemen 7
Helpers 11
Meter Shop 7
DESIGN ENGINEER
Engineers' Assistants
and Draftsmen 17
Clerks 6
MATERIAL PURCHASING AND
WAREHOUSING OF SUPPLIES
Warehousemen 2
Truckmen 4
Clerks 3
Laborers 17
LANDS AND LEASES
Land Agent 1
Land Salesman 1
Surveyor 1
40
OT.t.
:r ,-:[■'
lm
has
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Kilders
TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION
SUPERINTENDENT
OF
RANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
MAINTENANCE
n 12
eet Repairs 9
Iders 2
Ipers 10
itchmen 2
Foremen
Meter Repairm<
Street Repair)
Laborers
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
Superintendent
Carpenters *
Painters, etc. '
Helpers I
ASSISTANT TO GENERAL MANAGER |
Number of Employees, 96
GENERAL OFFICE
BUILDING SERVICE
PUBLIC RELATIONS AND SERVICE
SALES AND COLLECTIONS
Elevator Operator 1
Telephone Operator 1
Matron 1
Porters 3
Night Watchman 1
n
METER READERS
GENERAL OFFICE CLERKS
Cashier 1
Stenographers 4
File Clerk 1
I
Chief Clerk
Billing Clerks
Comptometer
Adressographe
I
|__
TABULATING BUREAU
COLLECTORS
Dist. Mgr. 1
Clerks 23
Service Men 6
Dist. Mgr.
Clerks
Service Mei
Dist. Mgr. 1
Clerks 2
Service Man 1
Dist. Mgr. 1
Clerks 3
Service Man 1
41
October, 1922
BUBBLES'
East Bay Water Co.
REVENUE DETERMINATION AND ACCOUNTING
By R. M. Sedgwick, Auditor.
Sedgwick
CHARGES for service against the con-
sumers of a public utility consti-
tute the entire revenue out of which
the utility is to meet operating expenses,
taxes, bond interest and dividends. The
importance of an adequate system to
properly determine and collect this revenue
should therefore be
apparent, without
further emphasis.
The billing, col-
lection and final
accounting for reve-
nue of the East Bay
Water Company is
entrusted to the
Commercial Depart-
ment and, in the
execution of these
important functions,
haphazard proced-
ure has no place.
A definite provision
is made in the sys- ^
tern which is in effect to handle not only
those transactions which may be termed
"regular," but also to care for the irregu-
larities of new services, etc, without con-
fusion either in accounts or records.
The methods observed are simple and
direct; the results obtained are satisfac-
tory from every standpoint and the records
produced are sufficient without being
superfluous. In the following is presented
an outline of the procedure observed,
omitting, for the most part, the details of
the handling of "On" and "Off" orders
and other changes in service.
BUSINESS OFFICES
Four "District" business offices are
maintained. The Alameda office handles
the accounts and transacts all business with
consumers located in that city. Consumers
in Berkeley and Albany deal with the
Berkeley District office. The Richmond
District office cares for all territory located
north of the Contra Costa-Alameda County
line and including El Cerrito. The remain-
ing territory, including Piedmont, Emery-
ville, San Leandro, Newark and unincor-
porated district in Alameda County is
served by the Oakland District office.
Payment of accounts is accepted at any
of the offices and transmitted to the proper
accounting office, for the convenience of
consumers. If received by check, the check
is forwarded; if received in cash, the Dis-
trict Manager deposits the cash to his
credit and sends his own check, being
provided with a "revolving" account for
just such purposes.
"SECTIONS" AND "ROUTES"
For accounting purposes, the entire East-
bay territory is divided geographically
into twenty-three so-termed "sections,"
each of which is further subdivided into
nine "routes." In the designation of
accounts, which is entirely by numbers,
the number of the section is first stated,
followed by the number of the account,
the latter consisting of four figures of
which the first indicates the route number,
the last three indicating the consecutive
number of the service as it is found as the
meter reader travels over the particular
route. Proper allowance is made in the
assignment of numbers to provide for new
construction.
Routes are so arranged as to lie wholly
within the geographical limits of one city
for the purpose of facilitating the distribu-
tion of revenue by political subdivisions,
as required for reports to the Railroad
Commission.
METER READING
Commencing on the first business day of
each month, nine meter readers go into the
field and read the meters in section 1, pro-
ceeding with section 2 on the next business
day, and so on, the entire territory being
covered during the working days in each
month. It is imperative that the work be
completed as scheduled and any deficien-
cies in force, due to illness or other causes,
are made good by the temporary transfer
of men from service forces.
Readings are recorded on "field sheets,"
which provide space upon each side for
one year's readings so that field sheets are
renewed, normally, once at the end of
every two years. The field sheets, in loose
leaf books of a convenient size, are in
account number order which is the order
in which the meters are encountered.
42
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Prior to the date of reading, field sheets
covering new services are inserted in
proper order by the District office and
information as to locked meters, changed
meters, etc., is also posted to the sheets
covering the accounts involved.
All readings are recorded in hundreds
of cubic feet and the difference between
present reading and previous reading is
worked out by the meter readers at the
time the reading is taken and an explana-
tion is sought for large increases or
decreases in consumption, the cause being
notefd on the field sheet, if found. Reports
are prepared by the meter readers cover-
ing all defective equipment encountered,
such as leaks, broken glasses or dials,
"stuck" meters and broken boxes or cov-
ers. These reports are noted on the field
sheet covering the particular account and,
at the close of the day, are forwarded from
the District office to the Superintendent for
correction by the meter repairmen.
Upon completion of the routes, the
meter books are returned to the District
office where the field sheets are again
reviewed for items of consumption which
seem at variance with what should be
expected. In the event that the meter
reader's notation does not account for the
difference the item is immediately investi-
gated by an inspector to determine the
facts. Upon completion of this review
the meter books are forwarded on the same
day to the Central Billing Bureau.
The number of meters read and the dis-
tance covered by a meter reader in one
day varies within rather wide limits.
Routes are arranged so as to compensate
for differences in topography and as
between the closely built up districts and
the outlying sections where meters are
widely separated. As an indication of the
work performed, the meters in the ground
as at October 1, 1922, were in excess of
83,000 and it is estimated that the force
of nine men walked more than 3,000 miles
in reading during the previous month.
BILLING
On the day upon which the meter read-
ers are in the field in a given section, the
Addressograph Department of the Central
Billing Bureau will have prepared from
addressograph plates (which have been
corrected for all changes up to that time)
a bill and a tabulating card for each
account in the section which is being read.
A reproduction of the form of bill and
card used is presented below. The bill
calls for three impressions from the plate
and the addressograph in use is entirely
automatic not only in the printing, but
also in the handling of these forms. The
machine is electrically driven and operates
at the rate of 7,200 impressions per hour,
which speed permits the preparation of the
bills and cards for a given section in a
normal working day by one operator. The
purpose of the card, as reproduced, is dealt
with elsewhere herein.
For the purpose of making current bills
and "previous" bills readily distinguish-
able, bills and cards are issued white and
pink in alternate months.
On the day following the reading of the
meters, bills and corresponding cards are
prepared by the extension clerks from the
information recorded on the field sheets.
These clerks work in "teams" of two girls ;
one of whom prepares the bill, the other,
at the same time, preparing card for the
same account. The current and previous
EAST BAY WATER COMPANY J Please Return BILL and STUB When Paying This Amount !
19 0.L.BR0WN--0 SEP 23 | ]_g 0.L.BR0WN--0 SEP 23 '
QOOC 6352 GENOA ST. TO | 6352 GEN0A ST. TO 1
BERKELEY OCT 23 | 3"= BERKELEY OCT 23 1
MAIL 1922 . MAIL 1922 1
EAST BAY WATER COMPANY
19 0.L.BR0WN--0 SEP 23
»,,(. 6352 GENOA ST. TO
y"-5 BERKELEY OCT 23
MAIL 1922
Thti bill ii due and par
abU uptmiu receipt £y
ditanumC.Ondifnal
NEW READING 1 t£
//
T1
0
0
IEAST BAY WATER COMPANY $ ^°/ 1 Mekomhdum of Wato. Bill
— j y
&
9
0
0
| OFFICE CASH STUB '
$
1 Please return ihu memomdum 1
■r
0
0
0
7-
PREVIOUS BILL
Received Payment Preview Bill. - -
1 „m„ lm. 1
W4MMfM.
i EAST BAY WATER CO. ToQi A„,om« Dl«
'
—
—
—
nv ;
Reproduction of Bill and Attached Stubs.
Actual size of bill 15x3% and each stub being 5x3% inches. Bill and stubs are handled upon
Addressograph which automatically feeds and prints these forms at rate of 7,200 impressions per
hour.
43
October, 1922
"BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
44
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
meter readings are recorded, and the
amount of consumption is computed as a
check upon the consumption as extended
by the meter reader. The amounts due
are determined from a schedule which
shows the proper charge for the amount
of consumption. Upon completion of the
billing of a route, the corresponding bills
and cards are compared to insure that they
have both been correctly prepared. The
entire billing is handled by three teams or
six women. All items of a doubtful char-
acter are referred to the Chief Clerk for
investigation before being billed.
Upon completion of the billing for a
route, the bills are passed to the comptom-
eter operator, who determines the total
and notes the amount on the back of the
last bill in the group. Both bills and
cards are then passed to the Tabulating
Bureau.
TABULATING BUREAU
The card reproduced herewith is known
as a Tabulating Card. It will be noted
that the upper left corner is cut off — when
the cut off corners of a group of cards
correspond it is then known that all cards
are right side up and not reversed.
Immediately after their preparation on
the addressograph, the cards for each route
are "gang punched" — that is, the numbers
on the left of the addressograph impression
indicating "Date Billed" and "Section"
are punched out in a punch which per-
forates the holes in fifteen or twenty cards
with one depression of the operating lever.
After completion by the Billing Bureau,
each card is individually punched to cor-
respond with the information upon its
face; as to "Town" (for revenue statistical
purposes) ; for "Account Number" (for
sorting purposes, as will be explained) ;
for "Cubic Feet Consumed"; for
"Amount" and, finally, in the last column
for purpose of determining the classes of
revenue as prescribed by the Railroad
Commission Code of Accounts. This
punching is done by one operator —
eighteen holes are punched in each of
83,000 cards in normal working hours,
during each month.
Having been punched, the cards for a
given route are fed as a unit to the "Tab-
ulator" by the Tabulator Operator. This
machine, by means of electrical contact
through the holes which have been punched
in individual cards, records as they pass
through the machine: First — the number
of cards ; second — the total consumption in
cubic feet; and third — the sum of the
amounts. The "Tabulator" operates at a
speed of 10,000 cards per hour and the
cards are handled and the totals obtained
automatically. The total of the cards as
shown by the Tabulator is then compared
with the total of the bills as previously
found on the comptometer — any differ-
ences are adjusted by checking and upon
agreement of the two amounts the total is
2 4
5
6
7
8
9
D
DATE
BILLED
11
Day
o o
1 1 1
2Q2
3
4
5
6
7
8
30
155 —
4
5
6
7
8
9
0 0
pi"
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
6 6
7 7
8 8
90
19
9235
MAIL
0. L.BR0WN--0
6352 GENOA ST
BERKELEY
CU. FT. CON.
<M4"
*&
AMT. $
%oy
0000
1111
202 2
3 3Q3
CxOQ)o003QOoOo
4444
5 5 5O
6 6 6 6
7 7 7 7
8 8 8 8
Q9 9 9
Cu. Ft Consumed
SEP 23
i"qciTi]R
1922
- 2 -
2 2 2
3 3 3
4 4 4
5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7 7
8 8 8
9 9 9
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
6 6
7 7
8 8
9 9
1 1 1
2 20
3 3 3
4 4 4
5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7 7
8 8 8
9 9 9
1 1.0
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
6 6
76
8 8
9 9
12"
11 Off
10
CM
Reproduction of Tabulating Card.
Actual size 7%x31/4 inches. Utilized not only to determine all distributions of revenue, but
also to supplant usual consumers' ledgers. All sorting of these cards and additions of consumption
and amount are obtained automatically on machines leased from the Tabulating Machine Company,
Washington, D. C.
45
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
entered upon a form to show the revenue
(and consumption as well) of each class,
Commercial, Industrial, etc., obtained
within the particular city in which the
route is located.
All routes within a given section are
reported upon one form and at the close
of the month "summary cards" are punched
to correspond with this information from
which cards the distribution of the entire
month's revenue, as well as the charges
against each District office, is determined
on the Tabulator for final entry on the
general books of the Company. The con-
sumption is also obtained from these
summary cards for statistical purposes.
The charges having been registered, as
above, the bills and cards are sent to the
proper District office — the former for col-
lection handling, the latter to be placed in
open file of unpaid accounts.
The employes of the Tabulating Bureau
are under direct supervision of the Auditor.
COLLECTION HANDLING
In respect to meter reading, billing and
final accounting, all accounts are referred
to and handled with reference only to the
arbitrary account number assigned to the
location. The identity of the individual
responsible for the bill first enters into
consideration when it is necessary to meet
his desires with respect to the manner of
presentation of the bill.
Of the bills rendered each month, 33,000
or 31 per cent are mailed under instruc-
tions of the consumers. This information
is carried on the addressograph plates,
just under the account number, and com-
pliance with these instructions requires
only that bills which are designated "Mail"
be folded and mailed in window envelopes
accompanied by a return envelope
addressed to the District office to which
remittance should be sent. Standard gov-
ernment stamped envelopes are used for
mailing bills — return postage is supplied
by the consumer. Receipted bills for pre-
vious month are also enclosed in cases
where the consumer, in paying previous
month's account by mail, has returned the
original bill for receipt of the payment.
Where it is required that several bills be
mailed to one address, such information
is likewise shown upon the addressograph
plate by reference to the account number
under which the bills are to be mailed.
Original bills and stubs are mailed — the
"Memorandum" stub is detached and
destroyed.
Bills collectible at addresses other than
the premises served are noted with the
proper collection address.
Before being mailed or otherwise pre-
sented to consumers, all previous balances
owing are entered upon the bill and stub.
Those bills which are not mailed or
otherwise disposed of in accordance with
special instructions are retained in account
number order in the District office until
collection. Many consumers prefer to call
for their bills and make payment at the
office counter. As an index to the account
numbers, a record is maintained from
which the account number may be deter-
mined from the street address — this record
permits the prompt location of original
bill when called for or permits the prep-
aration of a "Copy" thereof, from Tabu-
lating card, in the event that the bill has
been mailed or is in the hands of the
collectors at the time.
One force of collectors handles the col-
lections for District offices at Oakland,
Alameda and Berkeley. (The collections in
Richmond District are handled almost en-
tirely through the mail or by payment over
the counter either at the District office or
at commission agencies which have been
established in outlying territories.) Just
as the meter readers proceed throughout
the entire territory so does the force of
collectors commence with Section 1 on the
fifth working day of the month and pre-
sent the bills for payment at the con-
sumers' premises in cases where this
manner of payment is desired.
The bills, corresponding in order to the
meter reader routes, are issued to collectors
at the beginning of the day's work after
the total amount thereof is determined and
receipted for by the individual collector.
When checking in at the close of the day,
collectors are required to return the bills
or the equivalent in cash, accompanied by
the stubs of bills collected. No bills are
left at the consumers' premises in the event
that collection is not effected by reason of
absence or other causes, but the "Memo-
randum of Water Bill" is left and original
bill and stub are returned to the District
office. If this "Memorandum" is presented
46
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
at the counter, or received with check
through the mail, the account number as
shown enables the prompt location of
original bill for receipting. In no case is
a receipt for payment given upon the
"Memorandum" and upon the reverse
thereof is printed a warning to consumers
that a receipt upon the form will not be
considered valid by the Company.
ACCOUNTING
No running record is maintained of cash
as received either by the collectors or in
the District offices. In all instances the
stub of the bill serves as the record of
collection and an adding machine list of
such stubs is the basis of internal settle-
ment between collectors and clerks receiv-
ing payments and the District office cashier.
The open file of unpaid Tabulating cards
represents unpaid accounts and is, in effect,
the consumers' ledger. Debits are "posted"
by the addition of new punched cards;
credits are applied by the abstraction of
cards which are finally filed in separate
paid files as a record of the account. In
both sets of files, the account number is
the index to the cards contained therein.
In the file of unpaid cards previous
month's account are readily distinguish-
able by the use of white and pink cards
in alternate months, as has been previously
stated.
At the close of each day's business the
total collections, including checks received
in the mail, collections over the counter
and collections by collectors and service
men, are totaled. At opening of banking
hours on succeeding day, the exact amount
thereof is deposited in local bank to the
credit of the Company. The District Man-
ager has no claim upon these funds so
deposited, being subject to check by the
Officers of the Company.
The Tabulating cards corresponding to
the stubs of the bills paid are then
abstracted from the unpaid files, stamped
"Paid," with the date of payment, and
together with a "Daily Report of Collec-
tions" showing total figures only, sent to
the Tabulating Bureau. Upon receipt, the
cards are fed to the Tabulator to verify
the correctness of the amount of bank
deposit. Thereafter the cards are fed to
the "Sorter," which machine, by means of
electrical contact through the holes
punched before the cards were released to
District offices, sorts the cards in the
numerical order of their sections. This
machine is entirely automatic in its opera-
tions and handles the cards at the rate of
14,000 per hour. Since the section num-
ber consists of two figures, it is necessary
to feed the cards to the machine twice. In
the first run the cards are sorted in the
order of the terminal number; in the sec-
ond run the sorting is completed by the
"tens."
Having been sorted by sections, the total
credit to each section is determined by
feeding the groups of cards to the Tabu-
lator. This information is recorded upon
the Daily Report of Collections for final
entry to the general ledger controlling
accounts maintained, by the Auditor, over
each section and over each District office.
Thereafter the cards are sorted by
account number, within each section, to
facilitate filing in the District offices. This
sorting requires four runs through the
sorting machine, since the account numbers
consist of four figures. The cards are then
"gang punched" as to month of payment
in the extreme left column and returned to
the District office for filing in paid files
for such further reference as occasion may
demand.
A permanent "Master Card" is provided
for each account upon which all informa-
tion is recorded as to number and location
of service tap; size and number of meter;
all changes in tenants, and information as
to cash deposits or property owners' guar-
antees to insure payment of bills incurred.
Paid Tabulating cards are filed in the
District offices with these "Master Cards"
as an index thereto.
At intervals of six months the paid cards
are removed and filed in transfer files for
storage, from which they may be obtained
if required.
In verification of general ledger con-
trolling accounts maintained over the
detailed Tabulating card records in the
District offices, the entire files of unpaid
cards of each office are taken to the Tabu-
lating Bureau once during each month and
totaled, by sections, on the Tabulator,
under direction of the Auditor.
47
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
THE BUSINESS OFFICE
By J. P. Fieberling, District Manager, Oakland.
FlEBERLING
THE Business Office of a Public Serv-
ice Corporation, such as the East
Bay Water Company, being the point
of contact between the public and the
utility, it therefore follows that it is essen-
tial that the impression given at the time
of meeting shall be agreeable and lasting.
This contact with
the public is formed
in many ways, such
as a personal meet-
ing between the con-
sumer and an em-
ployee, by telephone
or by communica-
tion through the
mail. In every case
it is the endeavor
of the management
to have the party
satisfied and all em-
ployees are schooled
and instructed to
this end. A great
many of the consumers who make a per-
sonal visit to the office do so for the pur-
pose of paying their bills or to order
service in or out. In a case of this kind
the contact is generally perfect, for there
will be no dissatisfaction if the ordinary
fundamental courtesies of business service
are extended. But again there is a con-
siderable proportion of the consumers who
have a fancied or actual grievance and it
is this class who must be handled judi-
ciously and to whom the office force must
use and show the necessary tact, patience
and courtesy, for the correction of the
trouble.
Accounts created through meters are
payable monthly after the statement is
taken. The statement is taken regularly,
approximately the same date each month
and a bill showing the period covered, the
meter readings, the amount of water used
and the cash amount, is issued to each con-
sumer. Should a meter fail to register, a
charge is made, based upon the amount
used during the same period of the pre-
ceding year or an average is made from
the record of the several preceding months,
of actual consumption, at the same prem-
ises. It is optional with the customer as
to the method of securing his bill. He
may have a collector call ; he may have it
mailed to him,; or he may have it retained
at the office of the Company for payment
there.
The principal cause of discontent or
friction is high bills caused by an increased
consumption. This higher registration may
be voluntary or involuntary, actual or by
error, but in any case it creates an issue
and this issue must be met squarely, for
it is here that the impression of the Com-
pany as a whole is created; in other words,
the attitude of the entire institution may be
based on the measure of satisfaction given
at this time and it necessarily follows that
this satisfaction need not be material
adjustment, but might consist wholly of
service sold. When a consumer complains
of high consumption, the first and most
important thing to do is to ascertain the
cause of the increase. For this purpose
there is a special inspection blank used
which has printed thereon a list of ques-
tions to be answered by the person making
the inspection. If these questions are
properly answered the information given
is sufficient to use as a means of reaching
an understanding of some kind and the
consumer is kindly requested to hold the
matter in abeyance until this information
is gained. Furthermore, it is found to be
good policy to ask that the matter be
allowed to stand until after the next reg-
ular reading of the meter is taken, and the
consumer is informed that if any adjust-
ment is to be made it will be only on con-
dition that a normal consumption is shown
when this subsequent reading is rendered.
This gives him the hint to get busy and
correct anything which might cause unnec-
essary usage or waste, and if the reading is
lower, the Company is also satisfied that
the trouble has been remedied. In the case
of adjustments, the Company desires to
be fair to the consumers and makes con-
cessions of excess water bills in such cases
as warrant consideration and then only
after due investigation and where the trou-
ble is of an unusual character and of
infrequent occurrence. The amount of the
adjustment depends wholly on the facts
surrounding the case and may be great or
48
October, 1922
"BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
small according to the knowledge a party
had of the trouble and the measures taken
to stop it. After an inspection is made and
no satisfactory understanding is reached,
the consumer may have a test of the meter
made. This test is generally made at the
Corporation Yard, where they have the
proper equipment for that purpose, and
it is also made in the presence of the con-
sumer if he so desires. If no solution is
reached after these inspections and tests
are made, the consumer still has recourse
to the Railroad Commission and may
deposit the amount of the bill in dispute
with the Commission for its investigation
and decision.
Another point of contention is the mat-
ter of new service. The Railroad Commis-
sion has fixed four rules whereby an appli-
cant's credit will be deemed established.
Briefly they are as follows: (1) When
he is owner of the premises; (2) when he
makes a cash deposit; (3) if he furnishes
a satisfactory guarantee; (4) if he has
been a continuous consumer at least twelve
months and paid his bills promptly. In
spite of these regulations, some applicants
feel that all that is necessary is just to sign
their name and when this difference of
opinion is present, it then becomes neces-
sary to respond with the magic of personal
service to set the matter right.
It may be stated at this time that deposits
draw interest at six per cent per annum
(no interest is paid for a period of less
than a year), and are of two kinds — resi-
dential at a flat rate of $2.50, and indus-
trial, where the deposit will be twice the
amount of an average bill based on a
similar use of water by actual consump-
tion.
The Company endeavors to encourage
new service and therefore is very lenient
in the matter of extensions. An extension
of one hundred and fifty feet at the end of
a main is made free of charge and exten-
sions in addition to this must be paid for
by the consumer at actual cost. The
amount is refunded at the rate of $75.00
for each new service installed on the
extension, until the entire amount is re-
funded ; provided, no refund will be made
after a period of ten years. Extensions for
industrial plants are charged to the con-
sumer at actual cost and then refunded in
certain payments according to the volume
of water used.
Water used for settling trenches, street
work, and other miscellaneous purposes is
charged for at so much a cubic yard; of
square foot of work done, or by the
measure of the materials used.
Other rules and regulations which call
for diplomatic tact on the part of the office
force are: Where water has been turned
off for delinquent bills after the fifteen
days allowance has been exceeded; where
persons have attached ground wires to our
equipment when it is specifically forbidden
by law; where water has been shut off in
the mains in cases of emergency, and in
many cases of unforeseen minor events too
numerous and varied to mention. In deal-
ing with all the above named matters only
the high spots have been touched upon,
but many of them could well be made the
subject of a detailed discourse. Through
it all, though, service is a dominant factor
and it is the only thing a utility which dis-
penses a necessary commodity has to sell.
By service is meant not only the courtesy
and attention given the public, but also
that harmony of internal co-operation
which brings and creates loyalty to the
Company and fealty to its officials and
which causes each individual to work for
the cause as well as for his regular pay
check.
SERVICE AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
(Continued from page 39)
offering securities for sale on the
installment plan.
Seventh — Why East Bay water is pure and
how it is made pure and kept pure.
Eighth — The supervision and patrol of
its watersheds. The benefit to the com-
munity of having water as near pure
as possible at its source.
About one hundred and fifty advertise-
ments have been published. Extreme care
is exercised in the preparation of the
Company's advertisements even to the
minutest detail. Every phrase and sen-
tence is given much thought and at times a
prepared copy is laid aside for further
consideration before being released by
Company officials for publication.
The Company's motto is, "The Truth
Must Prevail," and its slogan is, "Quality-
Quantity."
49
October, 1922
'BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
THE PROBLEM OF THE FUTURE WATER SUPPLY FOR THE
EASTBAY COMMUNITIES
By George W. Hawley,
Engineer in Charge Water Supply Investigation and Construction.
George W. Hawley
THE Eastbay communities are, at
the present time, due to individual
and collective community initiative
and effort, experiencing an unprecedented
and enviable industrial and residential
growth, which in the opinion of those
qualified to predict will extend well into
the future at a nor-
mal rate during a
long time period,
and at an abnormal
rate of increase for
the next two or
three years.
Not only do the
census, bank, school,
utility and commer-
cial statistics con-
firm this opinion,
but a casual excur-
sion through the
community should
make it obvious to
the doubting that
we are at the beginning of a great develop-
ment era.
The natural resources of the com-
munity— location, climate, topography,
harbor and rail facilities, the development
of the contiguous back country and of the
Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys are
important factors making for the progress
and prosperity in the commercial life of
the Eastbay community. To aid in the
enlargement and expansion of the com-
munity, to attract industry and manufac-
turers, to encourage people to become
home owners, is the aim and object of
those concerned in our civic development.
This progress is being encouraged and
fostered without any serious consideration
of the future water supply question.
Water, the necessity of life, is not only
an important factor, but the determining
element in fostering or retarding com-
munity development and prosperity, for
without potable water in ample quantity,
no community can prosper and advance.
Not alone must we have water to meet
present demands as they occur, but we
must be prepared to anticipate and pro-
vide for the future demands, irrespective
of their magnitude, else we will have
cessation or restriction of a healthy, thriv-
ing community growth and decent living
conditions. It is not provision for today
or tomorrow, but provision for the distant
future which is of immediate concern to
those in responsible charge of the water
supply of the community.
To date, no active, concerted thought has
been directed to the solution of the prob-
lem of supplying the community with a
water supply sufficient to care for the needs
of the future commensurate with other
essential civic activities.
It is this phase of the water question that
is the interest and concern of the present
day and demands immediate attention,
study and solution. The limit of local
water supply development has been
reached and it is incumbent upon the com-
munity to express themselves as to who
shall provide a water supply for the future
and in what manner.
The history of all water works develop-
ment has been that sources of water supply
have been made available as the demands
of the community served required addi-
tional water. Such a program allows of
water being made available at the most
economic cost at all times during the
growth of the community since the nearby
sources are developed first, and with the
expansion of the community the sources
of additive water are extended successively
to a greater distance from the center of
distribution.
This has been the history of the Water
Companies supplying the Eastbay com-
munities. Successive additional sources
have been brought in as the demand re-
quired until now all of the economical
local sources have been exhausted with the
exception of the further development of
San Leandro Creek to its ultimate yielding
capacity. The type and extent of this
50
October, 1922
'BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
development is dependent upon the imme-
diate future requirements of the com-
munity and the specific distant source to
be adopted as a future water supply. The
East Bay Water Company will then have
fully developed the sources of water sup-
ply, at present owned and controlled by it,
to their ultimate capacity, and will of
necessity have to seek water properties afar
to cope with increasing demands.
The existing works have been wisely and
economically developed and constructed as
the water requirements of the community
dictated and now serve as a unit, impera-
tive and vital to any future development
program.
The large reservoirs, San Leandro, San
Pablo, 39th Avenue, Central, Temescal,
will function as important units in the
greater water supply project to carry peak
loads, as an assurance against interrup-
tions and disastrous delays, and minimize
the size of conduit supplying water from a
distant source. The location, elevation
and size of the constructed works will serve
well the requirements of the future. The
East Bay Water Company, fully appreci-
ative of its moral and physical obligation
to serve an ample and satisfactory water
supply to the community, realizing that it
has fully developed and exhausted all local
sources of supply, and fully aware of
the urgency of making immediately avail-
able a sufficient supply to permit of the
unrestricted future domestic and commer-
cial expansion of the district that there
may be no constriction of growth due to a
water shortage, to insure and make avail-
able a satisfactory supply as the demand
exists, has undertaken an extensive investi-
gation of all possible future water sup-
plies.
California being a semi-arid state is
dependent upon water for its prosperity,
therefore the water supply problem is a
highly involved and complicated one.
An investigation of any specific con-
templated water supply project, as to its
feasibility, involves a long time unbiased
study and thorough diagnosis of the ele-
ments of quantity of water available, the
quality of the water and the ultimate cost
of the completed project.
The quantity study embraces detailed
observations and determination of, the
seasonal and annual water crop produc-
tion, the possibilities and economics of
large storage reservoirs at the source,
retention reservoirs of the required capaci-
ties and elevations at the point of supply
to the distribution system to carry peak
loads, insurance and safeguard against
interruptions and interference of the
supply system. The legal phase such as
the acquirement of water rights at a reason-
able cost and without serious entangle-
ments, and protection of certainty of con-
trol of the waters for the future is a
serious and important factor to be given
consideration.
The element of quality involves assur-
ance of a pure water at its source, or in
the storage reservoirs, protection against
contamination en route, and protection
against pollution while in storage in the
retention reservoirs at the head of the
distribution system. The waters, although
pure as they are precipitated, collect and
gather bacteria, minerals and chemicals in
their travels over the watershed lands and
in the streams tributary to the storage
reservoirs. To guard against pollution at
the source, ownership or absolute control
of all lands from which the water crop is
gathered is necessary and essential. The
water on its way from storage to the reten-
tion or distribution reservoirs must be
conveyed in practically sealed conduits and
pipes to permit of no possibility of con-
tamination. Stored water exposed to the
continued and brilliant sunshine of Cali-
fornia is conducive to luxuriant organic
growths that upon decay produce obnox-
ious tastes and odors. It is, therefore, a
natural and logical inference that any
future water supply for the Eastbay region
would require filtration.
The cost phase of a distant water supply
project allows for the purchase of water
rights, watershed lands, rights of way,
construction of dams, tunnels, conduits,
pipe lines, pumping units and filtration
works. These costs are dependent upon
the distance or accessibility of the source,
the topography and geology of the struc-
ture sites and along the transmission lines
and the other physical conditions to be
encountered.
For the purpose of a preliminary pres-
entation and investigation as to the eco-
nomic utilization of the various sources
51
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
of water feasible and available to the com-
munities on the east side of San Francisco
Bay, the surface waters of Northern Cali-
fornia may be conveniently classified in
three groups: Coastal region waters, Sac-
ramento and San Joaquin waters, and the
Sierra streams.
The actual determination of which of
the various sources that would be best is
not to be attempted in this short discussion
in any degree, nor would it be possible
only after very extensive and painstaking
study of each individual source of supply
in all its phases and from all angles. Such
investigation would involve a long time
study, a large financial outlay and a
detailed investigation of each specific
source as to the financial, legal, physical
and economic aspects.
At various times in the past and under
diversified circumstances, several specific
sources of water supply have been sug-
gested. These suggestions have been based
on short time and more or less superficial
investigations, and not substantiated by
the necessary long time detailed study and
unquestioned and convincing conclusions
and data to conclusively designate any one
source as a source that is to be utilized. It
is largely from this mass of meager data,
from the literature bearing upon the water
supplies of the State, the literature and
discussions upon the immediate subject and
preliminary field investigation from which
the basic facts for this article have been
derived.
There is no longer any extensive body
of underground water available in quan-
tity and satisfactory in quality as a source
of supply for the Eastbay community.
The economic surface supplies capable of
insuring the community with an adequate,
potable water, are not many, nor are they
conveniently situated. Following is a
brief analysis of the sources of supply
available:
The Coastal region streams comprise
Eel River; Marin County streams; Pinole,
San Pablo, Wild Cat, Temescal, San Lean-
drb, the other minor water rights owned
and controlled by the East Bay Water
Company; Alameda Creek; Coyote and
Guadaloupe Creeks.
COAST RANGE STREAMS
With the ultimate development of the
San Leandro watershed, twelve million
gallons daily net safe yield will be added
to the present yield of the Company, mak-
ing a total of fifty million gallons daily
net safe yield available from the sources
of water supply owned and controlled by
the Company. This construction will be
the full and complete development of all
so-called local or nearby sources.
The run-off of San Lorenzo Creek could
not be conserved and added to the present
supply as it serves to replenish the under-
ground waters within the San Lorenzo
Cone and is not of sufficient quantity to
justify the expenditure that would be
required to make it available.
The rights to the flow of Alameda Creek
are vested in the Spring Valley Water
Company and the lands lying within its
watershed area, and are not available to
the Eastbay community.
Although it was at one time proposed to
utilize the waters flowing to waste in Coy-
ote and Guadaloupe Creeks as the source
of water supply for the Eastbay communi-
ties, the paramount needs and water rights
of the Santa Clara Valley land owners
have been sustained by a Supreme Court
opinion preventing any diversion of these
waters to lands alien to the Santa Clara
Valley.
The surface waters of Marin County are
not of sufficient quantity to warrant the
expenditures necessary to deliver them to
the Eastbay community, nor would they
in any appreciable measure materially
increase the present supply, nor would
they serve as a future supply if recognition
is to be given to the requirements of Marin
County which would have prior claim to
these waters and would undoubtedly enjoin
their diversion.
EEL RIVER
The Eel River rises in Mendocino
County and flows northwest through Men-
docino and Humboldt Counties, wasting
into the Pacific Ocean. This river is a
typical California coast range stream, hav-
ing high winter flow and extremely low or
no summer flow. From season to season
there is a wide range in run-off. These
conditions would necessitate the construc-
tion of large storage reservoirs to equalize
and conserve the annual and seasonal run-
off. From the meager data available it
appears there is available from this source
an ample quantity for the Eastbay com-
munities. The source of supply is approx-
52
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
imately 130 miles from the point of
beginning of distribution and at an eleva-
tion permitting of a gravity flow to the
Eastbay community with or without power
development.
The development of power is feasible,
but entails a loss of head which would
necessitate extensive and expensive pump-
ing within the distributing system, due to
the fact that the water would reach the
district at an elevation near sea level. The
conduit from the point of diversion to the
district would be somewhat costly, due to
topographic conditions and a bay crossing,
of which little, in an engineering or
geologic way, is known. The proposed
conduit passing as it does through the
intensively cultivated Russian River Valley
and Napa Valley would involve expensive
right of way acquirements.
The waters of Eel River are and
undoubtedly could be maintained hygien-
ically pure at their source since they are
gathered within the boundaries of a
National Forest. Aesthetically, it is rea-
sonable and logical to believe, the water
would require filtration to make it accept-
able and attractive for domestic or com-
mercial usage. Annual storage from Scott
reservoir would have a free flow for a dis-
tance of thirteen miles down the Eel River
to the point of diversion where it enters the
transmission system. The waters in their
travel over the gathering watershed lands,
in storage during a long time period, in
their travel down the Eel River, in shallow
storage behind the diversion dam, en route
in the transmission system, in storage in
the retention reservoirs, exposed as they
would be to mineral deposits, exposed to
the intensive rays of the sun, and stored
under climatic conditions as they exist in
the coastal section of the State, would
probably require filtration.
SIERRA STREAMS
The McCloud River presents conditions
applicable to its suitability as a source of
water supply different from any other
California stream. It is supplied by the
snows of Mt. Shasta, of unquestioned
purity at its source. In reaching the point
of diversion for a source of water supply
for this community, the water passes
through natural filter materials of porous,
volcanic ash and rock, yielding a very
satisfactory water.
The watershed area tributary to the Mc-
Cloud has as high if not a higher run-off
per square mile than any California
stream with practically no seasonal or
annual variation.
Any attempt to divert a portion of the
McCloud would undoubtedly be met by
objections, not only from local interests
riparian to the McCloud, but the more
powerful power interests holding prior
rights, and the Sacramento River Valley
to whom the water is essential and for
whom the flow in the Sacramento would
be depleted. Interest in the power com-
panies' rights might be possible of acqui-
sition, but only at great expense.
This project involves a 235-mile aque-
duct, expensive bay crossing, expensive
rights of way and expensive stream cross-
ings, making the cost exorbitant per M. G.
D. yield.
Since no available storage sites of
appreciable size or suitable elevations are
available at the source, an extremely objec-
tionable operating condition would result
in addition to a heavy pumping expense
at the retention reservoirs.
The Feather and Yuba Rivers have been
suggested as possible sources of supply.
The water rights on both rivers as well as
the reservoir sites are entirely appropri-
ated. Any diversion of power or irrigation
waters that might be acquired would tend
to deplete Sacramento River water. The
waters of both rivers would require filtra-
tion and pumping which, in addition to
the cost of construction, due to distance,
right of way, and bay crossing would not
compare favorably in comparison with
other suggested supplies.
The American-Consumnes combined de-
velopment would probably not yield more
than sufficient water to meet the increasing
agricultural activities which give promise
of outgrowing the quantity of water avail-
able. The storage sites are scattered and
expensive to construct, considering the cost
per acre foot of storage and the rights to
divert any of the waters have been
appropriated.
The Mokelumne River is not capable of
producing water sufficient to meet the
future requirements of the Eastbay com-
munities and this is noticeably true when
consideration is given to the fact that there
is a larger area suited to irrigation
53
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
contiguous to Mokelumne River watershed
than any of its other neighboring streams.
There are many involved water rights
existing from the early mining days, which
in addition to irrigation controversies,
would eliminate the serious consideration
of the Mokelumne. Similar to other of the
Sierra streams there is a lack of good
reservoir sites, storage costs would be
exorbitant and rights of way and land
values would be high. There is no feasible
power scheme on the Mokelumne.
The waters of the Stanislaus are entirely
appropriated by the irrigation and power
interests at the present time, with not suf-
ficient water production to meet their
present requirements. The waters of the
Stanislaus are subject in a high degree to
pollution, with few or no unappropriated
storage facilities. It does not compare at
all favorably as a source of water supply
with the neighboring streams, since filtra-
tion, pumping, excessive cost of conduit,
yield, lack of undeveloped power, reflect
adversely to the Stanislaus as a satisfactory
source of supply.
The Hetch Hetchy Project now being
developed by the City of San Francisco
presents the most favorable water supply
development from the Sierras, being only
138 miles from the district. It is the only
project having ample storage facilities at
such an elevation that filtration at the
source is unnecessary. The city having
acquired absolute control of the water-
shed lands can physically prevent contam-
ination. The water at its source is of
unquestionable purity, and whether it can
be transported from storage through the
retention reservoirs into the distribution
system without pollution, contamination,
and algaeic growths is questionable.
There appears to be at the present time,
among engineers, a diversity of opinion
as to the net safe yield of the Hetch Hetchy
Project available for the Bay communi-
ties, the total completed cost of the pro-
ject, the date of completion of the project
and the legal and financial status under
which the Eastbay communities could
obtain an equity in the Hetch Hetchy
Project. Quoting from one of the officials
of the Hetch Hetchy Project: "The com-
pletion of the entire aqueduct will require
several years' time and a great expenditure
of money. The full development of the
local supply system of the Spring Valley
Water Company will yield sufficient water
to take care of the city's needs for ten
years or more, so there is no need for
haste in bringing in Hetch Hetchy water."
It is an unquestioned and accepted fact
that to meet the needs resulting from the
continued growth and welfare of the East-
bay community, that water in addition to
the present yield of the sources of the
East Bay Water Company must be avail-
able to the community not later than 1930.
SACRAMENTO AND SAN JOAQUIN
RIVERS
There are available to the Eastbay com-
munities, waters from the Sacramento and
San Joaquin Rivers far in excess of those
required for the present and future needs.
To utilize this source of supply and
make the water available to the community
would involve the installation of a heavy
duty pumping station adjacent to prop-
erly designed and constructed intake and
control works on the banks of the river.
This station would pump the required
amount of water to storage reservoirs not
far distant from the intake where a major
deposition of sediment would take place
and located at such an elevation that water
would flow by gravity to the San Pablo
and San Leandro reservoirs of the East
Bay Water Company. The water would
then be purified and filtered and distrib-
uted throughout the entire area as needed.
Of the quantity of water available from
this source there can be no serious ques-
tion, for annually there goes to waste,
waters far in excess of any possible de-
mand for the future Eastbay community.
As to the quality, it may be said the
Sacramento River water is equal, if not
superior, in all respects to the majority of
water supplies throughout the Eastern and
Middle Western sections of the United
States. In its raw state, the water of the
Sacramento is of a superior quality to
that of the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio
and other Eastern rivers supplying New
Orleans, St. Louis, Kansas City, etc., and
more readily susceptible of proper san-
itary treatment.
Of the purity of the waters of the Sac-
ramento and San Joaquin Rivers after
filtration, there can be no question, for
with the modern methods and practices of
purification and filtration those waters can
be made hygienically and aesthetically
pure to a high degree — a water satisfactory
54
October, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
to a maximum — having on the whole a
very pleasing appearance and softer than
the waters now supplied.
The indicated cost of this project, from
the more or less superficial data available,
would be far less per given quantity of
water than any of the other suggested
sources of supply. There are no intricate
or involved engineering or construction
difficulties to be anticipated, no expensive
water rights involved, no extensive rights
of way to be acquired, the source is less
distant than any other available source by
a good many miles, lower maintenance
costs would result, and with no outstand-
ing features that would make for indeter-
minate or unsatisfactory operating con-
ditions.
In the light of present general but
meager and insufficient data and pending
more complete and detailed physical data
relative to any individual or specific source
of water supply for the Eastbay com-
munity, those projects meriting especial
and serious primary consideration are the
waters of the Sacramento and Eel Rivers,
undeveloped fully as yet, and an earnest
endeavor to arrive at some economic and
financially feasible participation in the
Hetch Hetchy project by the Eastbay com-
munities, and this procedure appears to
those familiar with this all important sub-
ject to be the logical program to pursue
in an investigatory way.
A PREDICTION
IN twenty-five years Oakland will be the
greatest city on the Pacific Coast.
This is not an idle statement of a con-
firmed optimist but the sincere conviction
of business men and financiers who are
now preparing the grounds for the great
development to come.
These men of broad vision see a won-
derful future before the Eastbay cities,
but they realize that there are certain
definite problems which must be solved;
and they are preparing to participate in
the solution of these problems. The most
important and vital one is the water prob-
lem.
The prediction for the growth of Oak-
land is based on the accomplishments of
the city, and the development which has
taken place during the past few years.
The manner in which Oakland came
through the era of depression and is now
leading all cities of relative population on
the Pacific Coast is one of the good omens
of future prosperity and greatness.
The present position of Oakland in the
financial, industrial and domestic worlds
is graphically set forth in an address de-
livered by K. L. Hamman of K. L. Ham-
man — Advertising, at a recent luncheon of
the Oakland Rotary Club. The text of the
message follows:
It is interesting to note that the only
section of the country, which in 1921
showed an increase in bank clearings over
1919, was the Pacific Coast, which likewise
showed the smallest percentage of loss
of any section over the peak of 1920.
While the increase for the Pacific Coast
over 1919 amounted to about 3% per cent,
the increase for the City of Oakland was
more than 18 per cent. Likewise the per-
centage of loss for Oakland from the peak
of 1920 was 1.6 per cent as compared
with 14.3 per cent for the Coast.
In the matter of savings deposits, Oak-
land is far ahead of any city in the
Twelfth Federal Reserve District with the
exception of San Francisco and Los An-
geles. On July 31 of this year, the amount
on deposit to savings accounts in Oakland
banks was almost twice that of Portland
and 2V2 times that of Seattle. The per
capita savings of Oakland are more than
twice those of Portland and almost four
times those of Seattle.
Increased Demand for Homes
Other indications, which point to the
future expansion and continued prosperity
for Oakland, are figures concerning trans-
actions of publicity utilities serving the
Eastbay.
In the case of the East Bay Water Com-
pany, installation of new meters for the
first eight months of this year totaled 5000
as compared with 4000 for the entire year
55
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
of 1921, an increase of 85 per cent in new
connections. During the month of August
608 new meters were connected.
Applications for new services from peo-
ple moving into Oakland from other places,
average from fifteen to twenty every day.
Building permits for the month of July
totaled 721 as compared with 492 for July
of last year. All of these figures would
seem to indicate that an increase of from
8000 to 10,000 in the number of homes in
Oakland is to be expected by the end of
this year.
Before the war the number of non-pro-
ductive meters on the mains of the Water
Company averaged about 8 per cent. In
other words, there were a number of less
desirable homes and apartments, which
went unrented because people found it easy
to obtain just the kind of place they de-
sired. When the war terminated building
operations, these less desirable houses and
apartments were occupied and the per-
centage of non-productive meters there-
fore dropped to less than 1 per cent. The
desire of Oakland residents to move into
better homes is shown by the fact that
with the building boom in progress, the
exodus from these so-called undesirable
quarters has started. The percentage of
non-productive meters is now about 3 per
cent. Basing conclusions on the pre-war
average of 8 per cent, there can be
no doubt that it will be some time bsfore
all of these less desirable houses and apart-
ments are vacated and new homes built to
accommodate the families now living in
them. This would seem to guarantee a pro-
tracted period of home building.
Another movement is under way in the
closer-in sections of Oakland. All of the
public utilities have records and maps
showing the location of vacant lots in the
territory served by them, and it is sur-
prising to note the rapid rate at which
these vacant lots are being developed. Dur-
ing the past year, the rate of building
has been more rapid than at any previous
time.
Other Public Utilities Expand
Activities of other public utilities prove,
also, the rapid rate at which Oakland and
the Eastbay territory are growing com-
mercially and as residential communities.
The increase in the number of customers
of either the Pacific Telephone and Tele-
graph Company or the Pacific Gas and
Electric Company may be taken as an accu-
rate barometer of the return of business
prosperity.
The rate of increase in the number of
telephones in the Eastbay cities was ex-
ceeded by one other city on the Pacific
Coast. The rate of growth in Los Angeles
exceeded that of Oakland by a fraction of
one per cent only.
During the past eight months 2400 new
telephones were installed, at which rate the
total for the year should be about 3600.
This rate of increase compares very favor-
ably with the peak years of 1920 and 1921,
when a total of 3700 and 4000, respectively,
were installed.
Outgoing long distance calls likewise
show to what extent business houses in
the Eastbay cities are transacting business
with outside communities; taking for
granted, of course, that the bulk of the long
distance calls are used for business pur-
poses. The first eight months of this year
show an increase of more than 275,000 in
such calls over the same period of last year,
making a grand total for the eight months
of 3,291,194 outgoing long distance calls.
On an average of 25 working days to the
month, this would mean the handling of
about 16,500 such calls every day.
Figures of the Pacific Gas and Electric
Company show an equally satisfactory gain
due to expansion in the Eastbay cities.
During 1921, 3522 new gas consumers were
added to the number of customers; 5391
electric light and power users were added.
During the same year, the connected horse-
power was increased by 6431 horsepower,
as compared with an increase of 2849 horse-
power in 1920.
An idea of the demand from industries
can be gained from the fact that in 1921
the number of new electric customers
added was only four hundred more than
those added in 1920, yet the increase in
connected horsepower during 1921 was
more than twice that of 1920.
Ninety-two miles of electric distribution
circuits were added to the company's sys-
tem during 1921, and a total of forty miles
of new gas mains laid.
Since January 1, 1919, this company has
expended $8,452,000 in additions and ex-
tensions, and now has work under way
estimated at $2,825,000, making a total
expenditure of more than $11,000,000.
The public utilities are preparing for
the future, and business men and bankers
are already getting ready for the time
when Oakland will be the Pacific Coast
leader.
56
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
OAKLAND, THE CITY OF PROMISE
NATIONAL financial writer, B. C.
Forbes, recently investigated con-
ditions in the West and spoke to
members of the Chamber of Commerce in
part as follows:
"I am glad to have been able to come to
Oakland and to see these cities on the
eastern side of San Francisco Bay. I am
particularly interested in industrial cen-
ters. Business, manufacturing and indus-
try in general are after all subjects from
which we all directly or indirectly derive
our sustenance.
"It seems to me that in the City of Oak-
land you have a tremendous natural
advantage in business — in the competition
which is coming on the Pacific Coast.
Oakland is going to be called upon to
shoulder tremendous responsibilities which
you men must prepare to handle and
handle efficiently.
"As far as an outsider can judge, you
have a wonderful geographical advantage,
but as you know, it costs money to develop
anything and your natural advantages
must be cared for through the addition of
man-made improvements. You will have
to spend some money to cope with the
growth which the future is certain to bring
to this country.
"I am a great person to ask questions.
I like to see, and when I came to Oakland,
I wanted to see all your docks. My
impression now is that you will have to
spend a good deal of money in improve-
ment of your port facilities if you are to
properly care for your share of the busi-
ness.
"I wanted to see the facilities which you
could provide to connect up your rail
termini. And I found that you had prac-
tically no facilities of this kind. You
must adopt some comprehensive plan for
developing these terminals.
"The cost is going to be large, but I am
quite certain that the cost of not doing will
be even greater than the cost of doing.
"The growth of industry and commerce
on the Pacific Coast is going to be very
great in the next few years. You will fail
in your duty if you do not develop your
port facilities.
"We of the East all have read much of
your great accomplishments on the Pacific
Coast. But after this, my first visit, I am
convinced that great as your accomplish-
ments are, you have only started. The
Pacific Coast, in my opinion, is still in its
swaddling clothes. You have to prepare
for much greater things.
"The tide of civilization is always
westward, westward, westward ! The Atlan-
tic seacoast which has held supremacy
through a long period of years, is seeing
its supremacy challenged. The progress
of this challenge will be slow at first, but
the time will come when the Atlantic will
see its position equaled and then even-
tually eclipsed because the big area of the
business in the future will be on the
Pacific Coast.
"Upon such cities as yours and such men
as you, will fall the responsibility of the
future.
"The business man who does not go out
of his way to play a fair part, to shoulder
a fair amount of responsibility, will turn
out in the long run to be an inefficient
servant.
"There is nothing so important to big
industry as the good will of the people.
"After visiting your Western cities, I
am inclined to doubt whether some of the
men at the heads of your large industrial
enterprises, and now I mean men who rep-
resent what you might term as branch
houses of larger Eastern institutions, are
taking the active intimate part in the devel-
opment of these Western cities that they
should take. It will repay them and will
repay their companies many times over.
"You have all the potentialities of a
great municipality and have before you
a business growth that to my mind is stag-
gering. I have been struck by the energy
and enterprise of the West; in fact, I don't
think you could help but be energetic in
this climate. It is my hope that no matter
how busy, how big you may become, that
you will not allow that bigness to drive
out of your hearts that splendid thing
which the world has termed the Western
spirit."
57
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
&-
Issued by
EAST BAY WATER COMPANY
Edited by the Employees
and devoted to their interest and benefit.
Address communications to Bubbles, care of
East Bay Water Company
512 Sixteenth Street
Oakland. California
^^ ^H ^g:
George H. Wilhelm Editor-in-Chief
Charlie E. Thatcher Managing Editor
Helen P. Armstrong Asst. Managing Editor
John R. Hunter Business Manager
Writers on Technical Matters
F. J. Klaus Asst. Chief Engineer
H. Reinhardt Asst. Chief Engineer
P. E. Magerstadt Designing Engineer
Paul I. Daniels Sanitary Engineer
Geo. Hawley Engineer in Charge
Water Supply Investigation and Construction
W. R. Curtin Engineering Department
Correspondents
Oakland District J. P. Fieberling
Berkeley District Harry B. Knowles
Alameda District G. A. McKean
Richmond District C. E. Clark
Corporation Yard .....Marilla M. Williams
Vol. V. OCTOBER, 1922 No. 6
MENTAL CREATION
ur |~AHE soul beholdeth the likeness
I of things that be absent." Imag-
ination is a priceless crystal in
the vision of the man who achieves. The
ability to see clearly new beauties and
betterments in man's best accomplishments
has given us our wonder world of today
and crowds the future with big promises.
And that ability is the finest and the most
needed asset in the world's advancement.
This exercise of creative power not only
applies to business, but to every movement
in life. Rob a person of imagination and
the world will stop for him. Imagination
is conscious of an indestructible domin-
ion and leads to social, religious and busi-
ness success.
And as imagination bodies forth the forms of
things unknown, the poet's pen
Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing
a local habitation and a name.
— Sh ahe spear e.
WHAT IS COURTESY?
Pullman Employees in Contest Submit
Fairly Complete Definitions.
At first sight the results of a prize com-
petition, held by the Pullman Company
for definitions of courtesy, cling rather
closely to a conception of courtesy as it
applies to Pullman service. But on exam-
ination the definitions will be found to
hold good anywhere.
The prize winners were, in order:
"Courtesy consists of giving those we
meet such considerate attention that their
every want will be satisfied, and they will
realize the attention is due to real interest
in their comfort.
"Courtesy is the spirit and essence of
service, kindness and good will. The
cheery word, the friendly smile, the help-
ing hand — these are its handmaidens. It
is born of a gentle mind and fostered by
tact."
"Do all the good you can, to all the
people you can, wherever you can, and as
promptly and as politely as you can."
These three definitions, submitted by
porters and one conductor, sum up prettv
well that friendly consideration and service
make up courtesy and are the true marks
of a gentleman, whether in a porter's uni-
form or with a row of orders across the
breast.
But as a single definition we rather like
better one submitted by a clerk, ineligible
in the competition:
"Courtesy is that unobtrusive manner of
association Avith our fellow men which,
while not marked with servility, seeks to
perform acts of service with deference and
consideration that cannot- be mistaken for
anything but the desire to add to the
pleasure and comfort of those with whom
we come in contact."
This Pullman clerk has said it.
■ — San Francisco Chronicle.
WHAT DOES OAKLAND MOST
NEED?
Is it — Spirit?
Is it — Heart?
Is it — Soul?
BLANKS EVERETT,
Sec. Oakland Chamber of Commerce.
58
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
CALIFORNIA COMPLETE HOMES EXPOSITION
THE first annual presentation of the
California Complete Homes Expo-
sition was held in Lakeshore High-
lands, Oakland, California, September 28
to October 22, 1922.
The whole plan of the Exposition was
conceived in the spirit of "Own Your
Home" movement, primarily to encourage
more and better home buildings; to pro-
mote a higher standard for architecture,
and a direct stimulus to every phase of the
business of home making.
Oakland has the reputation of being one
of the best, if not the best, home cities in
the United States. The California Com-
plete Homes Exposition is the first step in
making Oakland the greatest home city,
as well as an industrial center.
In the upper end of what was Trestle
Glen, the Glen was laid out with a boule-
vard bordered by large building lots. On
these lots were constructed a number of
modern homes, and these turned over to
various exhibitors to be furnished and
finished as modern homes. Some sixty-six
exhibitors took part in the construction and
furnishing of the homes, each exhibitor
doing a certain particular piece of work
on the houses.
Our Company undertook the task of
beautifying the grounds by the installation
of lawns and an exhibit consisting of
lawns, shrubbery, evergreens and a water
temple.
On each side of the main entering boule-
vard, substantial areas were prepared and
planted to grass. In these plots, various
types of sprinklers were installed by Oak-
land manufacturers for the purpose of
demonstrating the best manner in which to
care for a lawn.
The main exhibit of our Company,
located beyond the Breuner Bungalow, was
laid out by Thomas Nelson Murray, archi-
tect and landscape engineer, and Paul E.
Magerstadt, designing engineer for our
Company.
The central theme of the exhibit was a
pretty garden temple with a domed central
motif and two wings with insets of lattice.
The artistic manner in which the central
theme was handled does credit to both Mr.
Murray and Mr. Magerstadt. The main
standards and supports of the exhibit were
Temple Containing Exhibits East Bay Water Company.
59
October. 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
painted white and the lattice work green. The
crowning touch was the draping of grape vines
over the latticed roof, these vines bearing
bunches of ripening Concords. The vines with
the growing grapes were obtained at San
Leandro Lake.
The classic expanse of the interior of the
garden temple was broken by the green and
blood red cockscomb, tastefully arranged.
Walls were decorated with colored photo-
graphs of San Pablo Lake, the filter plant and
distribution reservoirs.
"How to Plant and Keep a Lawn" was the
object lesson of the exhibit. During the expo-
sition thousands of people inquired concerning
the best method of planting lawns. Just out-
side of the booth, a neat sign was erected giv-
ing the proper manner in which lawns may be
grown.
The exhibit was constructed next to a huge
live oak tree, under which benches were in-
stalled for convenience and comfort of visitors.
The growing pines
and other shrubbery
were banked about
the garden temple by
Mr. Murray, the
whole forming a pic-
ture of classic beauty.
Attention of visit-
ors was centered,
also, on the furnish-
ing and construction
of the houses and
bungalows in which
the exhibits were in-
stalled.
The Breuner Bun-
galow was furnished
by the decorating
staff of the John
Breuner Company,
with the central idea
that it was to be lived
in. The living room
was furnished in
m o d i fx e d Spanish
type with Oriental
Interior View of Temple
60
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
draperies and rugs. With the exception of
the guest bedroom in Colonial, the re-
mainder of the house also following the
Spanish modification. Twenty-two exhib-
itors participated in the arrangement of
the completed building.
Another bungalow was devoted to
Anderson's Carpet House. Economy guided
the choice of the decorator, each piece of
furniture and floor covering being selected
for durability and practical use; har-
monious comfort being evident.
Redwood for building purposes was
featured in the Redwood House. To meet
the requirements of the rustic home, the
house was furnished with reed and fiber
furniture.
The W. & J. Sloane House was a two-
story dwelling in the Northern Italian
style. In devising a plan of furnishing
for this home, the first requirement was
to conform to the simple architectural plan
of the building itself. No attempt was
made to furnish in the strictly Period style,
as the modern tendency is to adapt and
make use of the best features of various
periods, frequently combining several of
them in a harmonious and attractive rela-
tion.
Probably the most attractive feature of
the exposition was the Electric Home fur-
nished under the supervision of the Electric
Club of Oakland. The feature of this
house was, of course, the fact that it was
completely equipped with electrical appa-
ratus of every kind suitable to the modern
home where comfort and easy work is de-
sired. Practically all important electrical
interests in Oakland, including the Pacific
Gas and Electric Company, participated in
the furnishing.
Use of Dickey Mastertile was shown in
the house of this name. This house was
one of the most expensively furnished of
the exposition, the reason being that it is
permanent and fireproof. Choice bits of
furniture and selected pictures were used
to good effect.
The Curtain Store Bungalow emphasized
the use of appropriate curtains in the
home. Harmony of colors and materials
employed in curtains and drapes with the
finish and lines of the interior; assembling
and arrangement of suitable and comfort-
able furniture and an effort to make the
price of the completely furnished home in
keeping with the cost of the bungalow
were the three considerations in furnishing
the home.
In a two-story dwelling, the John Breu-
ner Company featured furniture of the
Span-Umbra finish.
Artistic furnishings were installed in the
Lackman House in charge of the deco-
rating staff of Lackman Brothers of San
Francisco.
The entire exposition, with its setting
of natural shrubs and trees, formed one
of the beautiful as well as practical dem-
onstrations of Oakland's present growth
toward a home city and emphasized the
wonderful future of the city's possibilities
as the place to establish a permanent
home.
New Type of Bungalow.
California Complete Homes Exposition.
61
October, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
Lawn Maintenance Instructions and Modern Sprinkling System in Operation.
California Complete Homes Exposition.
A Modern Residence.
California Complete Homes Exposition.
62
October, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
PICNIC AT SAN LEANDRO LAKE
WELL, it's over and it seems to have
left every one smiling and elated.
On Sunday, August 27th, sixty
machines filled with employees of the
Company and their friends left the main
office at ten o'clock and drove to the grove
at San Leandro Lake, with Mr. L. L.
Farrell as chairman of the transportation
committee. If numbers are any indication,
then the barbecue was a distinct success,
and the largest picnic we have ever had.
Arriving at the picnic grounds we were
met by Mr. Wilhelm and the races started
immediately. Miss Nordlund proved her-
self the champion girl sprinter, capturing
the prize for the egg race; then the peanut
race was next on the program with no
decision. Ralph Boyd's feet were so large
he stepped on most of the peanuts. The
bean guessing contest was won by Mrs.
Barry a former employee of this Company.
Mrs. Harrington and her husband won the
prize waltz.
A barbecued luncheon was served at
noon; we had punch during the day, and
in the evening we had another repast : good
steaks, beans, sandwiches, coffee and ice
cream. Here's where we give three cheers
for the good fellow who planned the picnic
lunch. George Hunter took his standing in
order to sample it all. Mr. Drinkwater
kindly donated candy for the crowd, which
was thoroughly enjoyed. We had enough
lunch to feed the Russian navy.
The weather was ideal, the park and
facilities all that could be desired. Appar-
ently every one had a good time for the
program was varied enough to appeal to
all tastes. From the time the egg race
started until the strains of the last dance,
there was something doing every minute.
Every one entered into the spirit of the
occasion and did his bit to add to the suc-
cess of the day, and evening saw a tired
but happy bunch voting this the best ever.
There is a pleasant memory that will
linger long in the minds of all those who
attended the barbecue. The location was
ideal and we were like one happy family.
Les Travers has a beautiful voice and
Mrs. Farrell, Miss Pretti and Mr. Goetz
also sang a number of popular songs
which were thoroughly enjoyed.
We made friends with the dogs and the
parrot. Some of the girls found out that
you must never put your finger into a
parrot's cage. Then we decided we must
have a ride around the lake in the launch.
We must not forget to mention that
artistic stepper who entertained us in the
evening, Mr. George Caya. It looked easy,
but we know it takes time and practice.
Mr. Magerstadt and Mrs. Gibson brought
their cameras along, but did not have a
chance to use them. No comments neces-
sary.
Our strong man, T. N. Crafts, took a
bunch around the lake in a row boat and
they all enjoyed it except the fellow who
had to handle the oars.
Elmer Richey won the prize for consum-
ing the most food.
Bob Cavanaugh and Charlie Fieberling
were the quiet ones in the crowd, but
somebody had to yell and keep things
moving. The boys from the Yard won the
tug-of-war. Nuf sed!!!
63
October, 1922
BUBBLES'
East Bay Water Co.
64
October, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
65
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Bv William Aichbee
When love is blind it is usually a self
infliction. Why waste pity?
Leather has taken a jump in price, owing
to the great demand for bootleggins.
Most any little stocking — cotton, lisle
or silk — looks pretty — if well filled.
The girls who fall for the long skirts
will be suspected of wearing lisle tops.
It goes without saying that any employee
who quite his job must feel "resigned."
"Platonic friendship" is a term invented
by a married man to "kid" his conscience.
When people lose their desire to win
there cannot be much left for them to live
for.
Judging from what we see, the girls are
built different than they were thirty years
ago.
Say, girls, better pull down the shades
when changing clothes in the ad-dressing
room.
The guy who is already on his last legs
had better not promise to get on his knees
to a girl.
Don't ever ask the waitress to give you
a "spoon" — she's too busy waiting on
customers.
That was some little shell game Con-
gress played when it put a 11 -cent tariff
on almonds.
We hope that when the bridge is built
over Carquinez "Straits" it will not be a
crooked one.
Any sound, healthy man, with good,
rich blood, can be successful with a troupe
of trained fleas.
There's a deluge of literature, pro and
con, about the Water and Power bill, but
it's mostly "con."
If you plan your worries ahead of time
you will not take them so seriously when
the time arrives.
Oakland will soon have skyscrapers that
will give the clouds a close shave when
they hang too low.
Ministers seldom buy second-hand auto-
mobiles, because they cannot run them
and remain ministers.
Criminal lawyers would have greater
success before juries if their clients would
drop their guilty looks.
There ought to be some place like hell —
only hotter — where judges could send
speeders and road hogs.
Always be polite to your dentist, other-
wise when you are at his mercy he may
jerk out the wrong tooth.
Holding hands is usually followed by
an engagement — or the winning of a jack
pot — if the hands are high.
A sincere, sober, straight face with a
smile in the voice, beats a strained grin
with a stiletto in the sleeve.
To those who are not satisfied to let
well enough alone we owe a great deal.
They make the world move.
Babe Ruth is not the only man who
makes a "home run" occasionally. John
Buyer makes one every day.
If conceit were conducive of warts, we
know a candidate who would emerge after
election looking like a bullfrog.
It is really wicked to hate any one
except the driver who tries to pry your
heels off as you cross the street.
Some people get so bloomin' interested
in what they are going to do tomorrow
that they forget all about today.
Marilla turned a corner on two wheels
near the Corporation Yard recently. She
was riding her brother's bicycle.
A chiropodist might hang out a sign
reading, "Corn Exchange," but it would
not be the place to get a bun yon.
66
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Salaries are paid out of production —
not out of capital. If you don't produce,
you are riding on the brake-beam.
They say that people who live together
grow to look alike. Be careful, girls — it
is better to hesitate than to be hasty.
No one uses Latin nowadays except the
doctors, and they wouldn't if they didn't
care so much about being found out.
Some men are born to command, while
others are subject to the commandments —
and still others who are subject to fits.
When it comes to things heavier than
air carrying passengers, how about the
Stork — they is some heirships, so they is!
A fifty-horsepower engine will not pull
you out of the mud as quick as fifty horses
could, because it hasn't got the at-traction.
If you hear anything Braying around
the Collection Department don't think it's
an echo from Brown on the night shift.
Expressing one's self in terms of work
is the best way to make your employer
understand you aim to "cash in" on your
efforts.
Prohibition jokes are tabooed on some
of the vaudeville circuits. The actors will
now have to "smuggle" them to the audi-
ences.
A scientist says nuts cannot be called
fruit because they contain no juice. Well,
how about the cocoanut? He must be
nutty.
A Puzzlers' League has been organized
in Alameda County. To join, one must
behave in such a manner as to puzzle one's
friends.
If one should find a silver dollar in the
pocket of the trousers he had left home for
his wife to press, that would be a coin-
cidence.
Say, Grace, did you see Augusta Avhen
you were in Maine? It was nice that you
remembered California as the best place
to live.
A newcomer asks if it would be an
offense to catch fish in Lake Merritt.
Certainly not, but it would be a miracle,
perhaps.
Luella leaned over her gas tank, the
height of its contents to see; she lighted a
match to assist her; Oh, Luella, I'm sorry
for thee.
An employee's baby swallowed a penny
on its birthday, and being of a generous
disposition, father wouldn't take it away
from him.
Some fellows' luck runs about like this:
If they were selling something that "sold
itself on sight," they would meet no one
but blind people.
The girl who swears that she's never
been kissed is not to blame. Isn't it
enough to make any girl swear — to never
have been kissed?
A politician is working on a concoction
to hand out to wimmen voters. Must be
something like a sugar-coated political pill
to knock 'em dizzy.
Thirty measures are to appear on the
ballot next month. Some are full meas-
ure, but they must be read carefully to
discover the fiction.
A girl changed her mind about commit-
ting suicide and got married instead.
Maybe her troubles are over — and maybe
they have just begun.
Why all the flubdub about women's
skirts? They will never have more to
show for their money than the way they
are wearing 'em now.
Corporation Yard notes tell us that
there is a new addition to the force there,
in the shape of a graceful little Swan.
Can she swim, Marilla?
Don't worry about those who are ahead
of you. Keep ahead of those behind you.
If you allow them to pass you it indicates
that you are slowing up.
Elastic currency, which our bankers
frequently talk about would be the real
thing if it would last from the first of the
month to the next pay day.
If a third political party should be
launched, a good name for it would be
"Republocratic." Only those with "valve
in head" qualified to join.
Miss Graven, the next time you try to
ride a mule, we advise that you tack a
piece of flypaper on the saddle first,
"business" side up, of course.
A man strangled himself with a shoe-
string in Chicago. Quit business, as it
were. Lots of people start life on a shoe-
string and succeed in living well.
67
October, 1922
'BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
VISITORS ENTERTAINED AT SAN PABLO UNIT
ON August 20, members of the Busi-
iness and Professional Women's
Club of Oakland were the guests of
our Company on an inspection trip to the
San Pablo filter plant and the San Pablo
reservoir. The modern methods employed
in impounding and purifying water were
explained by our engineers.
In automobiles furnished by the Com-
pany and by members of the Club, the
party left the Oakland office about 10:30
o'clock and went directly to the San
Pablo filter plant.
Harry Reinhardt, Assistant Chief Engi-
neer, here explained the manner in which
the water is brought through a two-mile
tunnel to the filter plant, and the reasons
for running the water through an aerator,
permitting the escaping of any gases
which the water may have collected.
Wilfred F. Langelier, Associate Pro-
fessor of Sanitary Engineering at the
University of California, and Consulting-
Chemist and Bacteriologist for the East
Bay Water Company, then took the party
in charge. After a view of the settling
basins, Professor Langelier told the visiting
business women of the manner in which
the water passes through the settling
basins. He explained that a very small
amount of chemicals, entirely harmless,
were added to the water to insure its
purity.
The business women were then taken to
the interior of the filter plant, where one
of the rapid sand filters was emptied and
filled, giving a practical demonstration of
the plant in operation.
In the testing laboratory, Professor
Langelier continued the explanation of
purification methods. In order that the
Company may know, at all times, the exact
quality of the water, tests for bacteria are
made continuously. Samples of water are
taken not only from the storage and dis-
tribution reservoirs, but from the water
taps in the homes. These are tested for
typhoid germs. Professor Langelier
called especial attention to the fact that all
bacteria are not injurious, and that the
precautions taken are to prevent any pos-
sibilities of contaminated water reaching
the home. He exhibited samples of water
taken from San Pablo reservoir, showing
not a sign of contamination, even though
it had not passed through the filter.
Business women evinced great interest
in the methods used in purifying water,
practically all of them declaring they had
no previous conception of precautions
taken and the work necessary to assure a
pure domestic water supply.
From the filter plant the party motored
to the San Pablo dam. Here George W.
Hawley, Engineer in charge of special
work, drew a graphic picture of water
storage, pointing out the necessity for
great water storage reservoirs to guarantee
a supply of water during dry years. The
storage facilities of the Company are suffi-
cient, when once filled to capacity, to pro-
vide water for three abnormally dry years.
Engineer Hawley further explained how
the water is taken from the lake, formed
by the great dam, by means of a tunnel
through the hills to the filter plant. To
permit of drawing water from any depth
desired, the control tower is equipped with
outlets at various elevations. The dam
was constructed by the hydraulic fill pro-
cess, the earth being sluiced down into the
dam from the adjoining hills.
Following the inspection of the dam, the
party was taken to a shady nook below the
damsite, where refreshments were served.
Following the repast, Mrs. Gladys H.
Barndollar, President of the Business
Women's Organization, speaking in behalf
of the club members, thanked the Company
for the opportunity to visit the plant.
"I can say for the members of our Club
that we have learned much today of which
we had no previous conception," she con-
cluded.
In reply, Mr. Thatcher, in behalf of the
Water Company, expressed the Company's
pleasure in being able to show the business
women of Oakland just what efforts are
being made to provide an adequate supply
of pure water. He invited the business
women to tell their friends of the great
work which is being performed and to
visit the filter plant whenever possible.
68
October, 1922
'BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
A Few of the Members of the
Business and Professional Women's Club of Oakland, California.
The club members joined in singing
several selections of their own composition,
complimentary to the officials and execu-
tives of the Water Company.
Under the efficient direction of L. L.
Farrell, Superintendent of transportation
for the Company, the party was taken to
the filter plant and the reservoir, and then
home, with ease and dispatch, after a
delightful and most interesting day.
Among the business women who were
guess of the Company were:
Mrs. Gladys H. Bamdollar
Mrs. B. G. Whitaker
Mrs. J. G. Bragdon
Mrs. Emma S. Cole
Mrs. M. B. Curtis
Miss K. L. Kruger
Mrs. M. Sliter
Mrs. O. W. Dingwall
Dr. Pauline Xusbaumer
Mrs. M. B. Chase
Mrs. Gretclien Herby
Mrs. F. Myra Cohan
Miss Z. W. Potter
Mrs. Carrie E. Hall
Dr. M. Maude Carter
Mrs. M. B. Guber
Dr. B. E. Merrill
Margaret A. Lynn
Mrs. F. M. King
Miss Dora B. Cooley
Miss M. B. Wilkin
Miss A. M. Jessen
Margaret A. Pollard
Esther Hoerst
Florence B. Bussell
Mrs. Fannie May Sande
Mrs. Eva Wilkie
PRACTICE OF THE COMPANY IN
MAINTAINING SHOPS AND YARD
( Continued from page 20 )
The area occupied by the main Yard is
a city block, the dimensions of which are
300 feet by 400 feet. In addition to this,
there is one large building located near
a railroad spur at 40th and Broadway,
Oakland, where a large amount of machin-
ery is stored, and a yard in East Oakland
140x235 feet, where the Winter's supply of
oiled rock and a large amount of new and
second-hand pipe is stored. In Berkeley we
have a lot on the railway where pipe, lum-
ber and road repair materials are stored.
All materials of every kind and nature
are handled through the main storehouse.
It has been the experience of this Com-
pany that we can do work at as small cost
as others, and ordinarily much more expe-
ditiously. We have the added advantage
of being able to handle work which may
entail the use of several classes of me-
chanics, such as blacksmith, machinist,
carpenter and painter, under one shop
management. Our work, though varied,
is nevertheless of a set type with which
our men have become thoroughly familiar.
We are independent of outside firms and
better prepared to meet and overcome
emergencies.
QUARTERLY DIVIDENDS
DECLARED
At its last meeting the Board of Directors
of this Company declared a quarterly divi-
dend of $1.50 per share on its Class "A"
6% Cumulative Preferred Stock, also a
dividend of $1.25 per share on its Class
"B" 6% Non-cumulative Preferred Stock,
both payable on October 16 to stockhold-
ers of record at 12 o'clock noon on
September 30, 1922.
69
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
"BUBBLES" from OUR
CORRESPONDENTS
OAKLAND • BERKELEY
ALAMEDA-RICHMOND
CORPORATION YARD
OAKLAND DISTRICT
GENERAL OFFICES— We are going
to have some new neighbors.
Vauban Bakery Company are now
erecting a new store adjoining our prop-
erty. They expect to occupy their new
home about January 1st with an up-to-
date restaurant and bakery.
It is rumored that
a syndicate will
soon erect a sixteen-
story office building
at 16th and Tele-
graph. All build-
ings are now being
dismantled. Other
leasing activities are
now current in the
neighborhood.
Miss Grace Blake
has returned from a
six weeks' trip to
Maine. She also vis-
ited many of the
large Eastern cities
and had a wonder-
ful time, but returned to her home State
thinking it was the best ever.
Duck season opened on October 1st with
our Vice-President early on the job.
Mr. Gerald Jones has left the employ of
this Company and has accepted a very
lucrative position with Mr. August Kemp-
key, who has charge of the installation of
the Napa Water Works. The good wishes
of the Company follow him.
The American Society of Civil Engineers
met recently in San Francisco for their
annual convention. The engineers of this
Company attended the session in a body.
Our guests now in attendance at the Con-
vention of the California Section of the
American Water Works will be entertained
at the Lodge at San Pablo Lake, which
has just been completed.
The caretaker's cottage for Mr. I. Ogden
at San Pablo dam is now in course of
J. P. FlEBERLING
Correspondent
construction. The caretaker's cottage for
Mr. Evans at the San Pablo filters has
been completed. A caretaker's cottage has
been started for our ranger, Mr. Tim
Kendall, at the head of San Pablo Lake.
Mr. Wm. Fulton, engineer at the Rose
Street Pumping Plant, was chosen to do the
stone work at the Lodge at San Pablo. This
is indeed a very creditable piece of work.
Mr. Fulton was one of the men who did
the stone work at San Leandro Lake many
years ago.
This Company recently installed an ex-
hibit at the California Complete Homes
Exposition in Lakeshore Highlands, which
was maintained for three weeks. A water
temple was built to house the exhibit and
the grounds beautified as a practical dem-
onstration of the use of water. Mr. T.
Murray and Paul E. Magerstadt designed
the structure and had charge of the work.
The exhibit was out of the ordinary, very
attractive and in keeping with the natural
beauty of the exposition. District Man-
ager Fieberling and C. D. Maloney were in
charge of the exhibition every day from
2:30 p. m. to 10 p. m.
The International Health and Safety
Exposition will hold their annual conven-
tion in the Municipal Auditorium in this
city in November. We will have an
attractive exhibit featuring some interest-
ing things pertaining to sanitary operation
of water.
Mr. C. E. Thatcher joined the members
of the Chamber of Commerce recently in
their trade extension trip to the Sacra-
mento Valley.
Lots are selling rapidly in the tract in
Alameda which this Company recently
opened.
Mr. W. R. Curtin recently purchased a
ranch on the San Pablo highway. He is
planning on a barbecue very soon and
will have plenty of lumber and nails on
hand so the men can work. A prize of
four wienies will be awarded to the fel-
low who does the best work.
70
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
The San Pablo Creek highway has been
opened to the public.
The new East 29th Avenue pumping
station has been started. This will serve
the high elevation district in East Oakland
and covers a very large area, replacing
the system which was served by the
Dimond reservoir. This plant has been
discontinued.
We recently sold a tract of land on the
Tunnel Road near Lafayette. There are
many nice home sites in this district.
All of the pumping stations are receiv-
ing a new coat of paint. When this work
is completed they will have a sightly
appearance.
The San Pablo filter plant is all dressed
up and the gardening work at this plant
is completed. It would be a liberal edu-
cation to any one to see the work which
Mr. Daniels has done here.
The stenographic division and Miss
Reimers had a real honest to goodness
three-day outing at Rio Nido over Labor
Day. This is the first time we have been
able to get away together and we enjoyed
every minute of our holiday. We did NOT
buy any fruit on the trip, but had plenty
of it to eat and we are already thumbing
the calendar for next year. We also
received an invitation to attend a house
party some time this month in Sebastopol.
Miss Graven says she simply must learn
to ride that mule and STICK on.
Some of the girls had a wienie party
recently with Mrs. Wilcox as chaperone
and she is recommended highly. As a
maker of coffee Miss Armstrong is the
"bunk," but otherwise everybody had a
good time.
Oakland Business Office ■ — Miss
Cede has been transferred to the Berkeley
Office. The Oakland Office is sorry to
lose her as she was one of our most effi-
cient employees, but as her residence is in
the College City, she was glad to avail
herself of the opportunity to make the
change. Miss Lawrence was moved from
the Cashier's Department to take the place
left vacant by Miss Gede's transfer and
Miss Lyons was made cashier.
Mrs. Nunn resigned to take up the
higher duties of housewife. Paul is
pleased with the change as he now claims
he can go home to a square meal. Miss
Schuster was appointed to the position of
assistant cashier and Miss Daniels was
moved from the paid files to the place left
vacant by Miss Schuster on the unpaid
files. Miss Pretti was employed to fill
the vacancy left open by all these changes
and it is believed she will become an im-
portant part of our office force.
Mr. Bray has been temporarily em-
ployed in the Collection Department dur-
ing the congestion caused by the re-routing
of the meter routes.
The work of the new Service Depart-
ment increased so much that it was neces-
sary to give Martin Blote assistance. Mr.
Elliot, one of the night clerks, was given
the position and Mr. Brown was employed
for the night shift.
The vacation period is practically over
and all are settling down to the steady
routine of business.
It is observed that the building at the
northwest corner of 16th and Telegraph
is being torn down. From information
gained, it is understood that a big mod-
ern building is going to be erected in its
place. This will be a good thing for the
immediate neighborhood and a boost for
our city. May the good work go on until
all the people in this community are in-
stilled with the "Booster" spirit and
slogan of "Onward, Oakland."
Central Billing Bureau — Ye scribe
would like to peep into Bubbles this edi-
tion and see reflected a personal refer-
ence to all employees in the department,
but we just want you to peep into our
department and be convinced that the
reason we are not up to our mark in this
edition is that we are so busy we have for-
gotten the personal touch.
With an extra force and the splendid
co-operation of the regular force we are
now plowing through the re-routing of
83,000 accounts and are turning the work
over smoothly and with ease. This work
will take about five months longer and we
hope that the same spirit of enthusiasm
will prevail that now exists.
71
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
Marilla M. Williams
Correspondent
CORPORATION YARD
VERDA McMEEKIN has just returned
from a two weeks' vacation spent in
and around Los Angeles. Verda
says she had a wonderful time and is now
ready for another year's work.
Miss Esther Swan is a new employee in
the Yard Office. She is learning the work
very rapidly and in
a short time we
know she will han-
dle it like an old-
timer.
James Sutherland
Stevens spent a
week's vacation in
the Sierra Nevada
Mountains. He says
he shucked the cold
he had been nursing
for several months
after being out in
the mountain air
two days, so we
guess the vacation
was a life saver.
What do you know about Ed Taylor?
He went and done it. Congratulations,
Ed. Let success be yours.
"Grandpa" Wilkins came to work the
other day with one of his eyes swollen
and colored a bit. "Grandpa" says it was
the work of a mosquito. What do you
think? We have our suspicions.
Bert Dohm, machinist, slipped away
recently and was married. We wish for
you and your wife every happiness in the
future, Bert.
Didn't Jack Zimmerman dance grace-
fully at the barbecue. Where did you
learn the new steps, Jack?
J. Moffitt, meter repair man, spent a
two weeks' vacation camping in the moun-
tains.
Doesn't Joe Jasper play the piano
wonderfully? The trouble is Joe doesn't
remember where we heard him play.
Ed McKinney just returned from a two
weeks' vacation spent in the mountains.
Ed said he went hunting for two days
and brought in some venison. Sounds
like he had a good time, Huh!
The Transmission and Distribution De-
partment has two new Mack Trucks.
John Honigsman certainly made an Al
backstop in the tug-of-war. Leave it to
the Yarderinos when you want to test
strength.
Paul Havens says the wedding bells are
going to ring for him shortly. Wonder
who the lucky girl is, anyway.
R. Sand is quite a lady's man, isn't he?
Did you see him at the barbecue?
Joe Amaral is back on the job again
after being on the sick list for over a
month.
"Paddy" Horan has a new Dodge
Truck; also a new daughter. Congratula-
tions, "Paddy."
Didja notice Jack Griffin's upper lip?
Some class, eh!
Say! Mr. Green, what is the attraction
in San Jose?
Not that we don't believe you got a deer
this season, "Mac," but you flashed that
picture on us before.
Through these columns of Bubbles we
wish to express our sympathy to the fam-
ily of the late Tom Maggora. Mr. Mag-
gora was an old-timer in the Company and
died only after being sick a few days.
Is it because MISTER Green is such a
nice boy and the only gentleman in the
Yard that he can spend so much time in
the office?
New Company Emblem
Recently put on all machines. Supt. L. L.
Farrell, George Hunter and Les Traver all look-
ing wise as though they had something to do
with it, while Joseph Jasper, the man who really
did the work, stands modestly in the back-
ground. See the number.
72
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
BERKELEY DISTRICT
Harry B. Kkowles
Correspondent
RALPH BOYD may be able to give a
bank teller a big handicap start on
counting money, but when it comes
to swimming he is in the Oakland dredger
class (please note operations in Lake
Merritt). We have it from good author-
ity that while Ralph was up Russian River
on his vacation the
officials of Rio Nido
proclaimed a holi-
day and the big
event was the swim-
ming race. Ralph
drew his position
alongside of the
"bank" (as usual)
and when the start-
ing gun was fired
Ralph was observed
to splash violently
while on his hands
and knees in the
shallow water, then
suddenly he sprint-
ed up the bank and
did 100 yards in nothing through the
bushes and slid into the water near the
finishing line and won hands down. He
also won the undivided attention of all the
pretty girls (and others) until he just had
to cut his vacation short and come home.
Ralph denies this entire story, however,
and also says he didn't cut his holiday on
account of the girls, but it's the writer's
opinion that the girls' "steadies" might
have K.K.K'd him.
Miss Edna Higgins has resigned from
her position with the East Bay Water
Company. It is the desire of this office
to wish her success and happiness in what-
ever endeavor she goes into, and we are
very anxious to go on record in saying,
"Good Luck."
Happy, indeed, was the gang to wel-
come Miss Gede to our family circle.
Whereas, Oakland Business Office has lost
an efficient worker, the Berkeley District
Office has acquired in Miss Gede's transfer
a mighty valuable addition to the already
efficient "Berkeley Bunch." She's nearer
home and mother's "eats" now, and says
"Berkeley looks good to her." We're glad
because she's glad, and we hope she will
like us, then it sure will be mutual.
Our sympathies are surely with Walter
Stoddard and his family. Walter was
suddenly stricken, the illness becoming
painfully severe and serious he was hur-
ried to his home and when a consultation
of doctors was called they immediately
decided an operation was necessary to save
his life. This was done September 9th at
Merritt Hospital, and proved very suc-
cessful. We are glad he is recovering with
rapid strides, for we miss his genial com-
pany and efficient service.
Among Miss Clark's many accomplish-
ments is that of being an "Aviatrix" — ???
We understand she was a "peach" of a
climber until she fell out of the tree.
However, the heat in Sacramento may have
affected her somewhat. What's the dif-
ference? It happened on her vacation and
she recuperated so rapidly that no ill
effects resulted, if we are to judge by the
amount of "pep" she brought back.
Vacations are over — every one came
back happy and imbued with a new spirit
of loyalty to the Company and a deter-
mination to pass on to the consumers
through daily contact, that courteous, but
business-like attitude which places SERV-
ICE on a high standard of efficiency.
Complaints are few and far between
since the improvements in the hillside dis-
tricts have been made. "Quantity and
more of it" was the cry, — now it's, "Gee,
we've some pressure since you've put in
those larger mains, etc."
Indications of how steadily the residen-
tial growth of Berkeley is showing are in
the reports of new services issued. Ninety
per cent of new meters installed will serve
new homes.
More than 1,000 new services have been
installed in the Berkeley district since the
first of the year, AND — still going strong.
The writer is very sorry to have missed
that wonderful picnic of General Man-
ager Wilhelm's at Lake Chabot. The Call
of the Wild (woods) got into the veins of
your correspondent and lured him to
unbeaten paths of the high Sierras. He
brought back a good appetite, a fine bunch
of sunburn and an unlimited supply of
appreciation in knowing he was identified
with the finest bunch of men, in the best
organization on earth.
73
October, 1922
BUBBLES"
East Bay Water Co.
ALAMEDA DISTRICT
Geo. A. McKeax
Correspondent
SO much has been said and written
about co-operation that one is very
apt to use the word without ever
attempting to apply it to himself. It is
always "there is no co-operation in the
other departments," when as a matter of
fact it may be just the other way around.
It very often hap-
pens that the em-
ployee is lacking in
co-operation wholly
unintentional on his
part, but due to the
fact that he is unin-
formed as to the
disposition of or
the final steps nec-
essary to complete
the execution of an
order. The lack of
knowledge is the
enemy of co-opera-
tion, so that to prac-
tice co-operation in-
telligently and to
its fullest extent, one should not only be-
come familiar with the routine of his own
particular task, but should also study the
routine performed by every employee
whose duties bring him in contact with this
order. Of course one cannot become per-
fect in a day, but by constant practice and
thinking of the other fellow one will grad-
ually accumulate a vast store of useful
information which will not only develop
him into a higher type of employee, but
will make him invaluable to his employer.
The special event of the Summer and the
one most enjoyed by those who were so
fortunate as to attend, was the barbecue
at Lake Chabot with Geo. H. Wilhelm, our
Vice-President and General Manager, as
host. The weather was ideal and while
some enjoyed short walks about the
grounds, others took advantage of the plat-
form under the trees and tripped the light
fantastic. The music furnished by Cava-
naugh's band of syncopators was full of
pep and one young lady who had just
finished her twenty-first dance was heard
to remark that it was simply intoxicating,
meaning the music. Another exciting
event which demonstrated the value of
co-operation and team work was the tug-
of-war between the Yard and Office forces.
The Yard crew worked as one man and
after three minutes of intense strain sat
back on their haunches and brought home
the bacon. Supper was also served, after
which dancing under the spotlight was
enjoyed. At 10 p. m. farewells were said
and all agreed that it was the end of a
perfect day.
The East Bay Water Company's new
tract known as the Thompson Park Tract
has at last been put upon the market. Mr.
Andruss of the Land Sales Department is
in charge of sales and reports that the lots
are in great demand. Hardly a day passes
but Clifford drops in our office and stamps
"Sold" on another lot. This is no more
than was expected as the tract is excep-
tionally well located and prices are very
reasonable. Do not delay, but step right
up and see Mr. Andruss and he will sign
the papers with which to complete the deal.
The residence of Joe Paladini, foreman
of the Alameda crew, was entered by un-
known parties and ransacked from cellar
to attic. Joe, with his family, had just
stepped out for his Sabbath afternoon air-
ing, and upon his return found the house
turned upside down. There was nothing
missing, but all hands had to set to and
straighten up the house. Now Joe is tak-
ing a few lessons in Graeco-Roman wrest-
ling so that should he meet up with the
intruder he will be able to welcome him
with so many Gardini headlocks that the
above-mentioned meddler will think that
a sack of wildcats has attacked him.
There is among our happy family one
youth to fame and fortune unknown, but
who nevertheless is entitled to special
mention here. This man is Louie Luchetti,
right hand man to Joe Paladini. Louie is
a very modest young man, carrying on his
work quietly and in a most efficient man-
ner. Whether it is a hammer, caulking
iron, or whatever is needed, Louie has an-
ticipated the want and is standing ready
with the article. This certainly is co-
operation, the results of which plainly
show in the good quality and large quan-
tity of work turned out by this little crew.
74
October, 1922
BUBBLES
East Bay Water Co.
RICHMOND DISTRICT
C. E. Clark
Correspondent
EL CERRITO has for the past three
months been afflicted with real grow-
ing pains; no doubt she caught the
disease from Richmond, Berkeley and
other neighboring cities, but be that as
it may, the building boom has arrived and,
as we are reliably informed by Mavor
Lee, it has come to
stay.
The Realty Syn-
dicate of Oakland
will build you a
home free if you
will be good enough
to purchase one of
their big lots situ-
ate in the Eastern
hill district of El
Cerrito, and we in
the Richmond office
take it for granted
the Company is sell-
ing plenty of lots,
judging from the
daily service appli-
cations from this particular district.
Foreman Wilson and his crew have
been kept busy putting in new services and
extensions to accommodate the new home
builders of El Cerrito.
Ye scribe spent two weeks of September
at Big Bar, Trinity County, California,
hunting and fishing, and has been kept
busy telling fish stories ever since his
return.
Duck dinners will now be in order and
we understand that there are so many ducks
in the rice field country of the Sacramento
Valley that the residents have been unable
to see the sun for the past month. How-
ever true that may be, ye scribe was able
to bag a few on opening day on the grounds
of the Richmond Gun Club near Colusa;
had a good time with a bunch of good
fellows. Pumper W. J. LaFranz reports
having bagged the limit.
In speaking of good fellowship let us
apply it to the members or employees of
a great corporation, just such a one as our
own East Bay Water Company. Recently
Vice-President and General Manager Wil-
helm gave a barbecue at his home, Lake
Chabot, for the benefit of the employees
who look to his guidance and direction in
the transaction of the Company's business.
All enjoyed themselves to the fullest
extent; that is my interpretation of real
good fellowship.
A hearty good morning and a pleasant
smile upon beginning the day inspires
good fellowship in the employees of
our office and helps to lighten the day's
burdens regardless of what they might be.
From this spirit of good fellowship and
friendship I firmly believe we can feel
assured will come efficiency. It is the trust
of the emplovee in his superior; the feel-
ing of friendship and good fellowship that
the superior has with the employee that
promotes efficiency. In our Company this
spirit of good fellowship is greater than
any other place. Mr. W. E. Creed, in an
address at one of our banquets a few years
ago, used the right term when he said "we
were one big family."
Assistant to the General Manager, C. E.
Thatcher, paid us a short visit a few days
ago. He doesn't come often and doesn't
stay long when he comes.
Mrs. LaFranz visited with her parents
at Valley Home near Modesto during Labor
Day and reports a fine time.
Miss Arnold went camping with her
father and mother in the Santa Cruz Moun-
tains, and found lots of mosquitoes and
a good time.
Foreman Pleich has a new Dodge hurrv-
up wagon all dolled up, and George keeps
it busy.
We have just had a new ventilating sys-
tem installed in our office, a wonderful
improvement.
The Santa Fe Railroad Company has
just completed a high board fence around
its entire yards in this citv. In the old
days we passed over and through these
yards any place we wanted to and at any
old time; passes are now the order, and
while sometimes this method causes some
inconvenience we know it is the safest and
better way. In the past few years the rail-
road company's business has increased to
such an extent that the constant switching
and moving of freight cars in the yards
made it very dangerous for people pass-
ing through the vard.
75
The TROUBLES OF A
HOME GARDENER
Will some one kindly tell me, for I really want to know,
Why the Golden Poppies will not bloom where Flaming Tulips grow?
The slender, stately Tulip, acknowledged as a queen,
Puts the stamp of beauty on the garden where she's seen.
And the saucy little Poppy with her waving titian hair,
And smiling eyes of brown, is more than passing fair.
No matter where the Tulip's planted she blooms for every one,
And sends her smile abroad like the shining of the sun.
But the saucy little Poppy will not bloom unless she's pleased,
And will not smile at every one no matter how she's teased.
Oh ! what a gorgeous garden it would really be,
If the Tulip and the Poppy would bloom at once for me.
But the saucy little Poppy hangs her curly head,
And says she'll never bloom in the Flaming Tulip's bed
Tall and stately Tulip, by day I think of you,
But the Poppy instills dreams that last the whole night through.
Amid the ups and downs of life, one thing constant seems,
We'll give up everything that's real, but hang on to our dreams.
So farewell, Flaming Tulip, Pm afraid you'll have to go,
For my dream of dreams is to watch the Poppy grow.
I
—An Admirer of Tzco
1}
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